<p>Out of curiosity, what fields are going to need professors in the next decade and what fields are there an overabundance? I'm particularly interested in the science fields.</p>
<p>I do not know a specific answer to that question, but the more technical and mathematically intensive the field is, the more demand and less supply in the field, i am sure.</p>
<p>Accounting.</p>
<p>There will always be a need for a Professors in any field since top tier schools require you to have a PhD or something of equivalent/experience and those numbers are limited.</p>
<p>No field has a strong need for new professors; most Ph.D. graduates do NOT end up being professors as the job market is extremely weak. It is a somewhat idealistic career path. </p>
<p>The only field with a strong-ish need for professors is Business, as Ph.D. degrees in that field are rare AND most graduates prefer industry.</p>
<p>Accounting is easily one of the fields that has the most demand for professors and is also high-paying entry-level (but all that PhD debt certainly counters that). Other business fields also have high demand/pay, though not as high as Accounting. However, the OP said he was interested in the sciences.</p>
<p>I have no idea what commentcomment is talking about. I routinely hear of (and have professors talk about it in class) people graduating with PhDs in things like liberal arts and becoming professors (actual assistant or full professors, not just instructors) and are still dirt-poor, having to move across the country to even find a college job in the first place. I do not see the “every field has high demand for professors” at all.</p>
<p>BostonEng:
Are you sure the academic job market is so weak even with highly technical/mathematical sciences such as Engineering, Computer Science, or possibly a few of the upcoming fields of technological development?</p>
<p>PHD debt? You’re wrong about that. I’ve never met a Professor who complained about debt. Schools give you fellowships. At my school everything is paid for and they get a 30k stipend. </p>
<p>Getting a PhD doesn’t riddle you with debt.</p>
<p>Yes, the academic job market for almost all fields is absolutely wretched. We needn’t even say anything about the humanities professorship job market.</p>
<p>LOL@PhD debt for business PhD’s. </p>
<p>Accounting PhD’s would do well to work just enough to get their CPA license and then go back to do their PhD. </p>
<p>Other business PhD’s would do well to look into the best way to structure their education. A Finance PhD wannabe might be better off majoring in math, an SCM PhD in Engineering, a Management PhD in psychology, etc. That’s something to google for you wannabes, cause this board isn’t exactly filled with professors.</p>
<p>I would say don’t look to teach a major that doesn’t have a big job field besides being a professor. I.E. music, economics (possibly although this often leads to an MBA after your undergrad, so perhaps not), philosophy, etc. Business/finance would be a good one since it always leaves open the opportunity to go into the field.</p>
<p>Also, you often get paid for getting a PHD through a fellowship, teaching assistant, or something else.</p>
<p>^^I’ve seen the question numerous times here and on the business forums “Should I get my PhD to enhance my salary”. NO!</p>
<p>You commit 4-7 years of your life to a PhD to work in academia with perhaps some consulting on the side. You don’t get a PhD to leave open the option to go into the business world. Anyone who would say so doesn’t know what goes in to a PhD.</p>
<p>Depends on the field.</p>
<p>When talking about various infamous CEO’s, remember that it is DOCTOR Ken Lay(Economics) to you n00bs, and DOCTOR Tony Hayward(Geology). </p>
<p>I don’t know when they got their PhD’s, just to be clear(could have been late in life when they were already top executives)…and I agree that it’s a very dodgy proposition to expect a PhD in business to help you get a regular job. A PhD in Math or something like that might get you a quant job without other experience I guess.</p>
<p>Nursing. They always have trouble finding nursing professors.</p>