Comments on: Is Being A Scholar Right For You? What Business Are You In? http://www.ethnography.com/2008/05/is-being-a-scholar-right-for-you-what-business-are-you-in/ A group blog on a wide variety of topics realted to anthropology Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:06:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tony http://www.ethnography.com/2008/05/is-being-a-scholar-right-for-you-what-business-are-you-in/comment-page-1/#comment-336 Tony Wed, 28 May 2008 08:08:31 +0000 http://www.ethnography.com/?p=218#comment-336 Most of the graduates from our academic programs do not go into academia, and the "business" of scholarship. My hope is that the vast majority who do not ever get Ph.D.s find value in the liberal arts programs we offer, whether they are flavored from a sociological, anthropolgical, literature, or other value. Many graduates tell me this is the case, and the fact that many employers make a liberal arts degree a prerequisite for employment tells me that our degrees are even worth something in the marketplace. As for who gets to be called an "anthropologist" or "sociologist", fortunately the answer is no one. In fact you can do it with or without a BA degree, as long as you are not fraudulent in your presentation. Unlike other fields, we do not have licensing and certification requirements and as a result still tolerate a bit of what I think of as creative chaos! It should perhaps be noted that anyone can submit articles for blind review to academic journals, too. In doing this, I have rarely if ever been asked for my degree bona fides. Certainly a Ph.D. trains you in the rigor of academic writing, but at the end of the day, academic publication is often a "blind" process open to all. Most of the graduates from our academic programs do not go into academia, and the “business” of scholarship. My hope is that the vast majority who do not ever get Ph.D.s find value in the liberal arts programs we offer, whether they are flavored from a sociological, anthropolgical, literature, or other value. Many graduates tell me this is the case, and the fact that many employers make a liberal arts degree a prerequisite for employment tells me that our degrees are even worth something in the marketplace.

As for who gets to be called an “anthropologist” or “sociologist”, fortunately the answer is no one. In fact you can do it with or without a BA degree, as long as you are not fraudulent in your presentation. Unlike other fields, we do not have licensing and certification requirements and as a result still tolerate a bit of what I think of as creative chaos!

It should perhaps be noted that anyone can submit articles for blind review to academic journals, too. In doing this, I have rarely if ever been asked for my degree bona fides. Certainly a Ph.D. trains you in the rigor of academic writing, but at the end of the day, academic publication is often a “blind” process open to all.

]]> By: JP http://www.ethnography.com/2008/05/is-being-a-scholar-right-for-you-what-business-are-you-in/comment-page-1/#comment-310 JP Mon, 19 May 2008 13:38:38 +0000 http://www.ethnography.com/?p=218#comment-310 What is "business"? The "business of anthropology" as defined above is much more the "business of tertiary education." At least, the vast majority of academic anthropologists share much, much more with, for example, political scientists, biologists, or engineers who are teaching in colleges than they do with a lot of people who "do" anthropology outside of tertiary institutions. Or are we defining "anthropology" as an academic practice? In that case, the above posting's argument is too circular to be of much use. What is “business”? The “business of anthropology” as defined above is much more the “business of tertiary education.” At least, the vast majority of academic anthropologists share much, much more with, for example, political scientists, biologists, or engineers who are teaching in colleges than they do with a lot of people who “do” anthropology outside of tertiary institutions.

Or are we defining “anthropology” as an academic practice? In that case, the above posting’s argument is too circular to be of much use.

]]> By: Savage Minds: Notes and Queries in Anthropology — A Group Blog » Around the Web http://www.ethnography.com/2008/05/is-being-a-scholar-right-for-you-what-business-are-you-in/comment-page-1/#comment-309 Savage Minds: Notes and Queries in Anthropology — A Group Blog » Around the Web Mon, 19 May 2008 06:55:42 +0000 http://www.ethnography.com/?p=218#comment-309 [...] Anthropology:  Mark Dawson’s post at ethnography.com points out the conspicuous nature of anthropology’s business. For me, people engaged in the business of anthropology are those that teach the art and science [...] [...] Anthropology:  Mark Dawson’s post at ethnography.com points out the conspicuous nature of anthropology’s business. For me, people engaged in the business of anthropology are those that teach the art and science [...]

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