ad for International Development - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jan 5, 2005

RE: ad for International Development

Date: Jan 5, 2005

Below is an ad for an asst. or assoc. prof in International Development at Johns Hopkins Univ. I wonder if USM's world class Ph.D. program in International Development produces doctorates that would be competitive for a similar position like this one at Johns Hopkins? See Johns Hopkins ad for Ph.D. in Internatinal Development (from Chronicle of Higher Ed) below:

INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of the Johns Hopkins University is seeking to fill a nontenured position in the International Development Program at the assistant or associate professor level. This three-year appointment will begin in the fall semester of 2005 and is renewable for one additional term of up to five years. Preference will be given to applicants with strong credentials at his or her level in one of the following fields: political economy, comparative politics, comparative public administration/public policy, development economics, or the microeconomics of development. The ideal candidate will combine outstanding academic research, excellence in teaching, and a record of involvement in current public policy issues related to political or economic development. Experience living and working in a developing country and/or have program implementation experience in such a setting, is highly desirable. The SAIS International Development Program offers a comprehensive approach to the social, political, economic, and environmental aspects of development as they interact within each region's particular cultural and historical setting. Applicants should submit their curriculum vitae to: Dr. John M. Harrington, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, 1740 Massachusetts Ave., Washington DC 20036. The application deadline is February 15, 2005. Johns Hopkins University is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities and Women are encouraged to apply.

Date: Jan 5, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: CW Fan
"Below is an ad for an asst. or assoc. prof in International Development at Johns Hopkins Univ. I wonder if USM's world class Ph.D. program in International Development produces doctorates that would be competitive for a similar position like this one at Johns Hopkins? See Johns Hopkins ad for Ph.D. in Internatinal Development (from Chronicle of Higher Ed) below: INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of the Johns Hopkins University is seeking to fill a nontenured position in the International Development Program at the assistant or associate professor level. This three-year appointment will begin in the fall semester of 2005 and is renewable for one additional term of up to five years. Preference will be given to applicants with strong credentials at his or her level in one of the following fields: political economy, comparative politics, comparative public administration/public policy, development economics, or the microeconomics of development. The ideal candidate will combine outstanding academic research, excellence in teaching, and a record of involvement in current public policy issues related to political or economic development. Experience living and working in a developing country and/or have program implementation experience in such a setting, is highly desirable. The SAIS International Development Program offers a comprehensive approach to the social, political, economic, and environmental aspects of development as they interact within each region's particular cultural and historical setting. Applicants should submit their curriculum vitae to: Dr. John M. Harrington, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, 1740 Massachusetts Ave., Washington DC 20036. The application deadline is February 15, 2005. Johns Hopkins University is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities and Women are encouraged to apply. "

I see nothing nothing in the announcement about Hopkins' football team.

Date: Jan 5, 2005

I don't care if Johns Hopkins offers a degree in "International Development." What I want to know is...

WHAT IS "INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT?"

Other than an E-Z way for a "busy professional" to get a graduate degree...

Date: Jan 5, 2005

invictus--to answer your question go to the following webpage and scroll to the bottom:

http://www.usm.edu/international/pages/prog_descr.html

Date: Jan 5, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"invictus--to answer your question go to the following webpage and scroll to the bottom:

http://www.usm.edu/international/pages/prog_descr.html"

Thanks, SCM. This reinforces my perception that "international development" is a crock.

(Am I the only person who associates the name "P.J. O'Rourke" with the National Lampoon magazine?)

Date: Jan 5, 2005

So according to the web page, all ID doctoral students completing the coursework will receive a "Certificate in International Development." I presume this will be something suitable for framing and bearing the official USM seal. Is this yet another first for USM, a new academic credential that's a bit more than a master's degree, but a little less than a Ph.D.? I'm sure this certificate will be every bit as prestigious as a Doctor of Economic Numerology diploma from BOGUS. Give me a break!

Date: Jan 5, 2005

Resume Padder, your name appears to reinforce the meaning behind the new IDV poster gal's message...pad, leverage...what's the difference?

Date: Jan 5, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: PhD Leverager
"Resume Padder, your name appears to reinforce the meaning behind the new IDV poster gal's message...pad, leverage...what's the difference?"

As my dear departed Grandmother used to say, "There's nary a lick of difference."

Date: Jan 5, 2005

Past fieldtrip locations include the Mississippi Delta, Washington, D.C., College Station, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee.

Gramatically speaking, we are then to assume that College Station is an independent state or a region such as the delta??

Date: Jan 5, 2005

From the webpage:
"International Development is the process by which nations and organizations work together to improve the quality of life globally through political, economic, and social change --or more to the point
“Why do some places prosper and thrive while others just suck?”
(P. J. O’Rourke (1998) Eat the Rich: A Treatise on Economics: p. 1)."

Thanks for the link to this official USM page. Boy, it sure is "wurl class" to talk about things that "suck." I'd really like to go to a place that advertises itself this way. Geez, Louise. I admit that I talk like that among friends, but to put it on the webpage is so uncool, don't you think? Just my 2 cents.

Date: Jan 5, 2005

After reading thru the link provided, all I can say is a fool and his/her money are soon parted.

Date: Jan 5, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"invictus--to answer your question go to the following webpage and scroll to the bottom:

http://www.usm.edu/international/pages/prog_descr.html"

The bad spelling and grammar and the typos probably help to recruit the type of student who would be comfortable in the program.

Date: Jan 5, 2005

Just out of curiousity, what is the difference between a master's degree and a "solid" master's degree? Is the implication that because students were solidly eduated at the master's level, we don't need to worry quite so much about them at the doctoral level?

Date: Jan 5, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Piled Higher and Deeper (Ph.D.)
"

The bad spelling and grammar and the typos probably help to recruit the type of student who would be comfortable in the program."

Try this sentence:

"Past meetings have included visits with the World Trade Organization, the United Nations, the French, German, and Afghan embassies, Ford and Rockefeller Foundations and many more."

Not exactly good writing. I may mail my copy of The Elements of Style to them and write it off my taxes as a desperately needed charitable donation.

Aren't "Afghans" something my grandmother used to make?

Date: Jan 5, 2005

Is it common for an applicant to a PhD program to have to submit a letter of "research intent" when applying for admission into the program? That requirement is a little odd-feeling to me, but admittedly my doctorate was done many years ago...

Date: Jan 5, 2005

it's pretty common to have something like a statement of research intent or statement of purpose submitted when applying to doctoral programs. admission committees look to see if the person fits the program. if a person wants to do research that no one in the department can supervise, he or she might be advised to find a program that better fits their interests.

Date: Jan 5, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: foot soldier
" Try this sentence: "Past meetings have included visits with the World Trade Organization, the United Nations, the French, German, and Afghan embassies, Ford and Rockefeller Foundations and many more." Not exactly good writing. I may mail my copy of The Elements of Style to them and write it off my taxes as a desperately needed charitable donation. Aren't "Afghans" something my grandmother used to make?"

Afghan = USM . In sum archaic adjectives and third world ideals.

Date: Jan 5, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"it's pretty common to have something like a statement of research intent or statement of purpose submitted when applying to doctoral programs. admission committees look to see if the person fits the program. if a person wants to do research that no one in the department can supervise, he or she might be advised to find a program that better fits their interests."

Thanks, SCM. A statement of purpose or interests, yes, I can see that.

Changing the subject a little... I was a bit shocked several years ago when one of my colleagues got his doctorate at USM & told me that he didn't have to take qualifying exams. (This shocked me, because I recall literally spending weeks preparing for my qualifiers.) Have quals gone by the wayside in majors other than education?

Date: Jan 5, 2005

the issue of qualifying exams is muddy. you have to give them, but what constitutes a qualifying exam varies from department to department. their role also varies. do you use them as a diagnostic tool to decide whether a doctoral student has deficiencies that need to be addressed, or do you use them as a way to weed out weak students that didn't get weeded out in the admission's process? departments handle it differently.

Date: Jan 5, 2005

Vict, I too was surprised that MA candidates in my field don't have to take orals at USM. Of course that could be that my MA school did not have a PhD, and perhaps they toughened up the MA instead. However, I had a LONG reading list, and the orals were not fun.

Date: Jan 5, 2005

again, orals varies from department to department. my department is considering reinstituting an oral component of MA comps. people have gotten away from this at the MA level in part because they may have a large number of MA people and scheduling the oral component is difficult.

Date: Jan 5, 2005

Some random thoughts here...

(1) Certificates are becoming more common at the graduate level--I even know of a few for undergrads. A certificate isn't a degree, so the requirements are loose and variable from one institution or program to another. Certain certificates are required to apply for certain jobs.

Clemson awards a Substance Abuse Certificate. I'm always amazed when someone refers to it with a straight face...

(2) Qualifying exams for the PhD are common, but not universal. We have them at Clemson for the PhD in Psychology, but I didn't have to take one at the University of Texas.

(3) P. J. O'Rourke is a smartass, and his writing is (to put it mildly) not to everyone's taste. But I think he would be offended to see something he wrote used to promote a degree program that doesn't require a whole lot of grounding in economics.

Robert Campbell

Date: Jan 6, 2005

Concerning the extraordinarily expensive ad in The Economist, I have heard rumors that an outside consulting firm was hired to design it. Can anyone confirm? If it's true, then even more money was spent than just the basic cost of running that ad.

Amy Young

Date: Jan 6, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Amy Young
"Concerning the extraordinarily expensive ad in The Economist, I have heard rumors that an outside consulting firm was hired to design it. Can anyone confirm? If it's true, then even more money was spent than just the basic cost of running that ad. Amy Young"

Who is the guy on the foundation board who owns the ad agency? Any connection?

Date: Jan 6, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
"Clemson awards a Substance Abuse Certificate. I'm always amazed when someone refers to it with a straight face..."

So, how may I go about receiving an official Clemson Substance Abuse Certificate?

Somewhere in my collection, I have scans of the Louisiana Marijuana Tax Stamp & the Kentucky Illegal Controlled Substance Tax Stamp. I never could ascertain whether drug dealers were expected to purchase these items & affix them to nickel bags or whether they were released for stamp collectors...

Date: Jan 6, 2005

Invictus,

The actual requirements for the Substance Abuse Certificate aren't terribly exciting. Students have to take a basket of courses in Psychology and Sociology--including Psychology of Substance Abuse and Sociology of Alcoholism--and I assume in Public Health.

Those tax stamps in your collection were never intended to be used. The law requiring the payment of taxes on illegal drugs just provided further counts to charge drug dealers with.

Robert Campbell

Date: Jan 6, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
"Invictus . . . Those tax stamps in your collection were never intended to be used. The law requiring the payment of taxes on illegal drugs just provided further counts to charge drug dealers with."

I recall the time when Mississippi was a dry state but it required bootleggers to pay a "black market tax" if they did sell liquour. My impression was that the purpose of Mississippi's black market tax was purely financial, not entrapment.

Date: Jan 6, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Bad Ad-itutude
"Who is the guy on the foundation board who owns the ad agency? Any connection?"

Danny Mitchell........

Date: Jan 6, 2005

Note at the fee schedule on the ID website at http://www.usm.edu/international/pages/course_descr.html that a single three-hour course costs $1437, as opposed to the $648 of a 'normal' graduate course. Yes,

"Tuition

Books

Ground transportation

Breakfast

Lunch

Snack"

are included, and yes there would be costs involved in getting instructors to and housing them at class meeting sites, but a $789 per student per course cost basis? It seems a bit of a surplus might well exist for fancy ads, even after something goes into the general fund. No wonder the ID program was gets front page billing on the USM website.