MFA vs Ph.D. – What is the Best Option for me?

This time last year I was finishing up my thesis (A novel titled Loving the Unlovable – published in June 2023) and prepping for my graduation March 2022. I earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. I could have gone with an MA in English Lit, but the MFA appealed to me because it was a terminal degree. That and when I searched for Ph.Ds in Literature, I came up with only one or two schools that offered the degree. Those schools required full residency. With the rest of my life being what it is, moving was not an option. I find it interesting that even with COVID, there wasn’t an online learning option for a Ph.D. Specifically for something purely academic like literature. Maybe I don’t understand the relevance of residency.

An MFA, I was told, would give me the same status as Ph.D. MFA is a master of fine arts degree. Whereas academic degrees end with a Ph.D. as the highest level, artistic degrees end with an MFA. When applying for teaching positions at universities, my MFA was the equivalent of a Ph.D. in my field. I knew I wouldn’t be able to use the title Dr. (it’s not a doctorate after all), but I could use “Professor” if I ever got a teaching position at a university. Then I learned that teaching positions were few, and they always chose a Ph.D. for subjects like English over an MFA.

The academic world changed when I was in school. Ph.Ds were still standard, but specialized doctorates for those who had no interest in teaching appeared. Where Ph.Ds are Doctor of Philosophy in a subject, these are doctorates in the subject itself. Ed.D as a Doctorate in Education, DBA as a Doctorate in Business Administration, etc. I considered the one for education, but the conversations in academia held these degrees in the same light as MFAs. They were the same – but not. I abandoned the idea of teaching formally and looked for work in an unrelated field.

I ended up finding a job I love that has nothing to do with creative writing or even English. My co-workers are fun and I enjoy the work. But there is something about being in school that I miss. So, a year after I got my MFA, I find I’m looking up Ph.Ds again. I started with looking for online English degrees. My passion is language and literature, so studying it makes sense. But not much has changed in a year. There are still no schools offering an online doctorate degree in English Lit that don’t also require me to move to another state.

With that sad thought, I browsed other options. An ED.D. or Ph.D in education would seem to make the most sense, given my love of literature. But at that level, it would require me to focus on an aspect of school management or curriculum creation. Neither of which appeal to me. I have no interest in running a school now that my homeschooling days are behind me.

My next option is to get a DBA or Ph.D. in business. Specifically, organizational leadership or logistics. This would make sense for my current career path as a purchasing agent. But I have no academic background in business. Would I need to go back and get my MBA (Masters of Business Administration) first? Could I jump into a doctorate level degree program with only my experience of owning a few companies? The idea of going back for an MBA and then following up with my doctorate is offputting. Not to mention finding financing could be a challenge. I already have one masters level degree. Would I be able to even get financial aid for a second?

My third option is to look into a degree in sociology. My bachelor’s degree is in English Literature, but I also minored in Sociology. I could have doubled majored, but I had no interest in working as a social worker. I kind of regret the decision now, because it would have given me more options. While getting a doctorate in social work has the same issues as getting one in business, I might enjoy it more. If I need to backtrack and get my masters in social work (MSW), then at least I would enjoy the subject. I also have my undergraduate work, some of which might transfer.

I was never that person who knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I didn’t discover my passions until later in life. By then, many of my passions were not things I could practically make a living doing. This lead to an endless cycle of trying things I might like, getting bored or frustrated, and moving on. The one constant was learning. I love learning. So now the question is…

Do I want a Ph.D. because I want to advance my career, or simply because I’m missing the mental challenge of learning at that level?

Time will tell.