It's bad. Like, BAAAAD. Particularly in American and European history. The average number of applicants for tenure-track positions ranges from around 100 at the low end to 800+ at the high end. And the number of tenure-track jobs is decreasing with the rise of adjunct and VAP positions. The debate among historians usually goes something like this: "We need more tenure-track jobs!" vs. "We need PhD programs to admit and graduate fewer people!" I think both are somewhat unrealistic.
I tell students that they really shouldn't go to graduate school in history unless they have no other options, because there's just no guarantee that you will find a job after 7-10+ years of graduate education. Or you might find a VAP position paying $36k in rural nowhere, with a 4-4 teaching load and only a one year contract. Especially because of the recent economy, boomer faculty members are delaying retirement, and salaries for tenure-track assistant professor jobs remain very low. There have been no raises at my institution in 6+ years, and a friend who just got tenure is literally only making a few thousand more than me because his salary has been frozen and my starting salary was higher than he was making after 5 years. The only raise he's ever gotten is the tenure bump.
But all that being said, I love my job, and I feel so fortunate to have gotten a tenure-track position out of grad school.
It's bad. Like, BAAAAD. Particularly in American and European history. The average number of applicants for tenure-track positions ranges from around 100 at the low end to 800+ at the high end. And the number of tenure-track jobs is decreasing with the rise of adjunct and VAP positions. The debate among historians usually goes something like this: "We need more tenure-track jobs!" vs. "We need PhD programs to admit and graduate fewer people!" I think both are somewhat unrealistic.
I tell students that they really shouldn't go to graduate school in history unless they have no other options, because there's just no guarantee that you will find a job after 7-10+ years of graduate education. Or you might find a VAP position paying $36k in rural nowhere, with a 4-4 teaching load and only a one year contract. Especially because of the recent economy, boomer faculty members are delaying retirement, and salaries for tenure-track assistant professor jobs remain very low. There have been no raises at my institution in 6+ years, and a friend who just got tenure is literally only making a few thousand more than me because his salary has been frozen and my starting salary was higher than he was making after 5 years. The only raise he's ever gotten is the tenure bump.
But all that being said, I love my job, and I feel so fortunate to have gotten a tenure-track position out of grad school.
Well, fuck. Everything you said in your first paragraph also applies to the hard sciences. Is there any field in academia that isn't dying?
Do you think the way the university you work for structures class options allows for happier professors?
Do you think happier professors make better teachers?
I think there are two kinds of professors: the ones who love teaching, and the ones who tolerate teaching because they love research.
I love teaching, and I love the flexibility at my university. It definitely makes me a much better teacher, because I'm actually enthusiastic about what I teach! But I know that strategically, teaching isn't going to help me get tenure, and the time I put into student emails, looking over drafts of papers, giving detailed feedback on assignments, and revising lectures doesn't really "count" for much in terms of my job. But I do it because I love teaching. (and I'm staying on top of my research goals too)
Kuus, I don't think there are any really thriving academic fields right now, unfortunately. From my humanities POV I'm jealous of the research support and salaries of people in the hard sciences, and the greater prevalence of postdocs which softens the job market blow when there aren't many tenure-track positions.
But it's not great anywhere, as far as I can see, and I'm not sure if we'll ever return to what it used to be like. My grandfather got a PhD on the G.I. Bill after WWII and had so many job offers; my uncle got a PhD in the 1970s and also chose between multiple positions. Our generation and future generations face a very different job market, unfortunately.
Kuus, I don't think there are any really thriving academic fields right now, unfortunately. From my humanities POV I'm jealous of the research support and salaries of people in the hard sciences, and the greater prevalence of postdocs which softens the job market blow when there aren't many tenure-track positions.
But it's not great anywhere, as far as I can see, and I'm not sure if we'll ever return to what it used to be like. My grandfather got a PhD on the G.I. Bill after WWII and had so many job offers; my uncle got a PhD in the 1970s and also chose between multiple positions. Our generation and future generations face a very different job market, unfortunately.
I am wheezing at support and salaries. Right now I am an entire lab, with four projects, and little money.
I guess I should say more research support and salaries, compared to humanities where apparently there are admin people who don't understand why historians need research funds, too. And our starting salaries are the lowest at the university. Then again, it's all relative, right?
I wish research was like Indiana Jones! For those of us working on non-US topics it typically means 3-4 weeks of overseas research (longer for the dissertation) in archives, supplemented by visits to research libraries. My research involves reading old documents and then trying to make arguments about them. I'm happy to post more detail in a more private setting.
It's bad. Like, BAAAAD. Particularly in American and European history. The average number of applicants for tenure-track positions ranges from around 100 at the low end to 800+ at the high end. And the number of tenure-track jobs is decreasing with the rise of adjunct and VAP positions. The debate among historians usually goes something like this: "We need more tenure-track jobs!" vs. "We need PhD programs to admit and graduate fewer people!" I think both are somewhat unrealistic.
I tell students that they really shouldn't go to graduate school in history unless they have no other options, because there's just no guarantee that you will find a job after 7-10+ years of graduate education. Or you might find a VAP position paying $36k in rural nowhere, with a 4-4 teaching load and only a one year contract. Especially because of the recent economy, boomer faculty members are delaying retirement, and salaries for tenure-track assistant professor jobs remain very low. There have been no raises at my institution in 6+ years, and a friend who just got tenure is literally only making a few thousand more than me because his salary has been frozen and my starting salary was higher than he was making after 5 years. The only raise he's ever gotten is the tenure bump.
But all that being said, I love my job, and I feel so fortunate to have gotten a tenure-track position out of grad school.
Well, fuck. Everything you said in your first paragraph also applies to the hard sciences. Is there any field in academia that isn't dying?
I can answer this, no. That is why I am in academia AND administration. It's sad, but it's happening everywhere.
I'm nodding at all of this. Higher ed is complicated and people who go to get PhD's don't necessarily know what they're getting into. You must be hella awesome and lovely and talented to get your position!
And I'd love to know more about your research, too.
I love that you love to teach because that's what inspires people. My undergrad was awesome because all my professors loved to teach. When I went to get my masters, everyone was there because they had to be. They wanted to do research, but had to spend X amount of time teaching and it was really miserable as a student.
Gault, I think a big reason I even got a job is because of my PhD institution (top ten in my area). If I'd stayed at my (lower ranked) MA institution I probably wouldn't have a job, or not a tenure-track job. I find all the rankings ridiculous, but they play a huge role in the job market. Although I agree that I'm lovely.
DL, I had a similar experience in my MA program. One of my advisors couldn't care less about advising or teaching, to the point where he skipped my final research presentation even after I rescheduled it for him.
One reason I love my PhD advisor is that he really cares about teaching (and he's one of the best teachers I've ever seen) even though he's a research superstar in his field.
I have not really been hit on by students, as far as I know. I'm really dense about noticing that sort of thing. And when students stare at me, I get wigged out. Like, take notes or something, students!
How about I do a father-son pope/demagogue pair? Alexander VI and his son Cesare Borgia are pretty awesome.
Academics all agree that office politics are the worst in English departments. So maybe I have a rivalry with them? My department is very relaxed with very little typical academic bickering, which I appreciate a great deal.
And I think we get discounted season tickets? But I'm not a sports fan.
Pssst, smock. Buy the tickets and resell them to alumni at a severe markup. Back when I was a student a million years ago, season tickets for students were $36. I resold one ticket to a big game for $325. Capitalism!
Oh, but I know a professor who planted a fake student in his class on the first day. When her phone rang, he called her up to the front, took out a hammer, and smashed her phone. He told the students never to let their phone ring in class. And I don't think he ever told them it was all a set-up!
That is hilarious!
I found this whole conversation so interesting. I LOVE history, but didn't know what to do with such a degree. I was an archaeology major and loved it. I wish I had finished. Maybe one day.
And PS, a lot of history majors end up going to law school. Or teaching at the secondary level. As I mentioned above, it is just so damn hard to get through grad school and get a job at the college level, but I do love what I do! Although when I was in HS I wanted to major in archaeology and go research the Mayans.
Post by partiallysunny on Mar 26, 2013 7:55:29 GMT -5
Mine was Egypt, lol.
And then you realize it's not like that at all. Very few archaeologist actually get out and do research. Most are stuck in labs, sifting dirt for fragments of flint. If they can find a job at all.
Pssst, smock. Buy the tickets and resell them to alumni at a severe markup. Back when I was a student a million years ago, season tickets for students were $36. I resold one ticket to a big game for $325. Capitalism!