<p>So, I finished the GRE and I'm dedicating a lot of time to looking at programs and getting ready to apply to different places. There is one thing that is a bit distressing for me though.</p>
<p>My goal is to get a PhD. I always thought that would take maybe 4-5 years, and I always thought it included master's degree courses for 2 years and then doctorate courses for another 2-3 years. I'm finding that this isn't necessarily true.</p>
<p>A lot of PhD programs I am looking at require the applicants have an MA before they actually apply. So, in doing the math, I'm seeing this:</p>
<p>MA = 2 years
PhD = 4-5 years</p>
<p>Total = 6-7 years!</p>
<p>Is this standard? Will it really take me 6-7 years to get a PhD, or are there PhD programs that include the MA and can be done in 4-5 years?</p>
<p>Specifically, UCLA says that they really don’t take MA students, but only students who want to go the entire PhD.</p>
<p>It just seems like I’m seeing some schools that will grant a PhD after a BA in 4-5 years, and some that require 6-7 years after a BA to acquire a degree.</p>
<p>The U of Maryland and the U of Wisconsin are admittedly better programs in SLA and probably way more competitive. Is that why they might take so much longer?</p>
<p>6 or 7 years for a PhD sounds usual for a PhD- many programs will offer funding for that long. The length of time will depend on how quickly you get through the course work and passing tests, then how long your research takes. Be warned that some programs are primarily for PhDs- some programs won’t take anyone interested in just the masters. The masters will be typically be awarded along the way to a PhD, it becomes the terminal degree in PhD programs for candidates who don’t finish.</p>
<p>So- you are bummed out by the length of the programs. Guess what can follow- a postdoctoral fellowship in some fields, doing yet more research. Ask these of yourself- What are your long term goals? Why do you want the PhD? Some anticipate immersion in a field they like for a lifetime. What will you do when you finish with your schooling? Discuss options available to grads with various degree levels with your advisor.</p>
<p>I guess the question I really have is whether some of these schools will require a time commitment of 6-7 years (going to school full time) because they are very competitive, or because that is actually the standard for PhD programs?</p>
<p>Are there good programs that I could finish in 4-5 years if I study full time, or does that level of time commitment mean that those are poor programs.?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I don’t have an advisor. I just got back from living overseas for a time.</p>
<p>For PhD programs in most fields, it is not a matter of “studying full time” to complete the degree. Traditional coursework may take only 2-3 years to complete. The rest of the time will be required to complete your research and write your dissertation. Depending on the field, your topic, how your research goes, how well you work with your advisor, how many changes your committee requires, etc., the research and dissertation writing part of a PhD program can take anywhere from 1-2 years to forever. As I recall, the average time to completion for many PhD programs (for those who eventually complete the PhD) is usually in th 5-6 year range.</p>