<p>I want to get a PhD in Mathematics so that I can teach at a community college. I don't really care about research at all and see it only as a means to an end. Does it really matter where I go for my PhD? I had hoped to get into a top tier math program, but the B I am about to get in multivariable calc will probably kill that dream. All in all, though, I'm not really concerned with prestige as long as I can get the job I want when it is all over with. I think my grades and tutoring/TAing experience should be fine for a lower tier program. </p>
<p>My school offers a dual degree program that will allow me to get a BS in Math and a MS in Computer Science with only an extra year of work. The benefit to me is that I get the MS at the same cost as my undergrad program. Does it help me when it comes time to apply to PhD programs?</p>
<p>Do you really need the PhD to teach where you are? I’m in California, and one of the things that suprised me about the community college system is that so many of the instructors are not PhD’s. I’d say most are not. Even at the university level, many of of the lower division teaching staff are not PhDs, though many are working towards their doctorate, albeit slowly. I’m not talking about teaching assistants getting a degree at the university – I’m talking about folks who teach at one university while pursuing a degree at another one. </p>
<p>I’m not anti-PhD by any means; I just wonder if you’re trying to get a degree for that job goal, is it even necessary?</p>
<p>I think I can teach as a part-time instructor without a PhD, but I won’t be able to get into a tenure track position without one. I actually hope to be able to teach part-time at a CC while working on my PhD and then get into a tenure track position when I finish my PhD.</p>
<p>You need only an MA/MS to teach at most community colleges. There is also no reason to go to a top tier program if you want to teach at a community college.</p>
<p>Overall, you should not look into a PhD program if you want to teach at a community college and have no interest in research.</p>
<p>^
Not true. The acadermic market in many fields (not sure about math specifically) is so tight the most CCs have their pick of PhD’ed job applicants for tenure track positions.</p>
<p>At the community college I transferred from most of the tenured professors have PhDs. In fact, the only departments I can think of where I have seen tenured professors without PhDs are the English and Foreign Language departments. In the maths and sciences there are lots of non-tenure eligible part-time professors without PhDs, but they are a miserable lot and all the ones hoping for full-time positions are working on their PhDs.</p>