Master’s vs. Ph.D.:Which one to choose?

How far to go?

Kathleen Fisher, Tufts UniversityLinda Apsley, Microsoft

Revisiting Choices

Given that you are at the end of your first year in either a Ph.D. or MS program, the questions are:1. Am I in the “right” program for me, based on a

better understanding of• What I want (what I love / what I dislike) in the

graduate school experience?• What I want as a future career path?

2. If not, then how do I get onto the “right” track?

Kathleen’s StoryEducation B.S. and Ph.D. Stanford University (1991, 1996)

Positions AT&T Labs Research (1996 - 2011)

Tufts University (2011 - present)

Research Programming Language Theory, Domain-specific languages, ad hoc data management

Service CRA-W, CRA, SIGPLAN, ACM SGB, JFP,…

Family Married to Steve (1990-2000) Elaine born (1992)Married to Bob (2002 - present)

Fun Ballroom dancing, studying Italian, traveling, cooking, watching hockey

Linda’s StoryEducation B.A., Organizational Behavior, BYU (1982)

MBA, City Univ. of Seattle (2008)

Positions Comm. College CS Part-Time Faculty (1985-1996)Tester, Technical Writer, Microsoft (1997-2000)Technical Program Manager, Microsoft (2000-2002)Group Program Manager, Microsoft (2003-2007)Director of Program Management, Microsoft (2008-now)

Specialties Enterprise computing: design and deploymentBusiness and technical strategyIncubating new technology and teams

Service Hopper’s, Women of Windows, Boy Scouts

Family Married to Richard (1981-1996)Married to John (1997 - now) Three sons (Allan, Patrick, John)Three daughters (Arwyn, Julianna, Suzye)

Fun Ballet, bicycling, cooking, reading

Switch

Grad School Paths

First year

MS course

MS thesis project

PhD

-based

Job industry / startup

Job lab /academia

coursework to dissertation

Reapply

Experience of Course-Based Master’s Degree

• Your educational goal: to acquire more knowledge (breadth & some depth) in the field via coursework.

• Specialize in CSE courses more than in undergrad program– Select courses to match your interests (and, do

well in your courses)• Short time to get what you need:

– Job-hunting soon after starting the program– Cultivate & extend professional network

• Reference letters? Future PhD advisers?

Experience of Research-Based Master’s Degree

• Your educational goals: – To acquire depth and project skills via Master’s thesis under

supervision of advisor– To get a taste of research

(to decide about eventually pursuing PhD)• Research component is similar to Ph.D., but…

– May be more “development” rather than innovative & deep independent research

– May result in 0-1 published papers, rather than 3 or more– Choices (of adviser, project, etc.) have lower stakes: You’re

committing to 1-2 years, rather than ~5.

Experience of Ph.D. Degree• Your educational goal:

– To do original high-impact research

– To learn the skills needed to be a contributing member of the research community

• Technical, soft skills, and culture

• Long process (4-6 years), multiple phases– Predictable challenges and stress points

I Research

Grad School Paths

First year

MS course

MS thesis project

PhD

-based

Job lab /academia

coursework to dissertation

Choose advis

or

Qualifying exa

ms

Thesis proposa

l

Submit papers

Write

disserta

tion

Job hunt

CRA-W Grad Cohort Workshop 2005

Pick advisor, move from coursework to research

Pick a TopicFirst submission

Reviewer comments

Write & defend thesis

Advisor stress

Job interviewinvitations

Experience of the Ph.D.

Quals

Lessons from the Roller Coaster

• The ride is similar for most peopleYou are qualified for the ride. It’s scary for everyone.You aren’t alone. Share your experiences.

• It takes externally applied energy for the uphillsYour advisor will be a key person (later session on this).Seek support from many sources (technical, emotional)

• There are a lot of downhill sectionsFrustration & doubt are guaranteed. Things can go wrong.

• Momentum is importantKeep moving forward. No side trips to distract.

Setting Research Goals

• You’re in the pilot seat– not yet sure of your

destination– need a capable crew to help

you fly• Network, mentors, friends.

• PhD Research requires redefining success– Class performance is not as important as before

• In research, nobody knows the answer!– And half the challenge is in asking good questions!

Career Paths

First year

MS course

MS thesis project

PhD

-based

coursework to dissertation

Developmentjobs in industry;Create a startup;Project manager

Research in industry or government labs;Project leadershipin industry;Create a startup;University research/ teaching

Career Opportunities withMaster’s Degree

Types of jobs you can do in industry with a Master’s• Operations

– Consulting– Install and administer software– Technical support/troubleshooting– Web site management

• Product or application development– Design, code and/or test new software– User interface design, human factors analysis and test– Write technical documentation– Program or product management, marketing– Project management

• Research support (very similar to product development)– Contribute to prototyping new software ideas and to

publications

Types of Employers of Master’s Degree Holders

• Information Technology (IT) companies– Software or hardware or services companies– Start-ups– Spectrum of established companies (small to big)

• Companies in other industries– Banking, insurance, telecommunications, healthcare,

environmental engineering, manufacturing, travel, …– EVERY industry needs software engineers today

• Universities– Typically in support roles

Course vs. Research Master’s

Course Master’s• Breadth of knowledge

may qualify you for marketing, project management, product management roles– But if that’s what you want,

take some business classes!• Lack of major project may

be a handicap for development roles

Research Master’s• Deep project may qualify

you for more interesting development roles

• Potentially channeled more into development

• Much more attractive for a research lab position– Thesis will help with

publications

Career Ladders in Industry

Technical• Entry level: implement

parts of products designed by others

• Mid-level: lead design of product components

• Senior: lead product design and implementation

Management• 1st line: Direct single

project/component to successful conclusion

• Mid-level: oversee several related projects

• Executive: oversee product and corporate strategy

One View of the Technical Ladder in Industry

Level Contribution and Impact Scope and Ownership Who Knows You Are a Leader

Fellow Major industry or market impact

Major corporate initiative

CEO knows you

Distinguished Engineer

Major group impact Major group initiative Many VPs know you

Senior Tech. Staff Member

Major division impact Major division initiative Your Sr. VP knows you

Senior Major line of business (LOB) impact

Major LOB initiative Your LOB director knows you

Advisory Major product impact (or research area)

Major product initiative Your department head knows you

Staff Major department impact Major department initiative

Your manager knows you

Entry Major team impact Major team initiative Your team knows you

Career Opportunities with Ph.D. Degree

• Research or advanceddevelopment in industrialresearch labs

• Development leadership roles in industry• Technical project management / leadership• Academic research and teaching in a

university as a professor

I Research &Teaching (?)

Industry Career: Research and Industry Impact

• Research– Engage in scientific discovery, collaborate with peers, fund research

(but typically later in career, possibly internal funding)– May involve university faculty and students – Develop creative thinking around technical solutions to problems

• Technology Transfer– Contribute to company’s products, client engagements, open source…– Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills– Publish work and engage with academia

• Service– Departmental (hiring committee, e.g)– Company-wide (promotion review board)– Professional

Expected to do all three well!

What can I do now to prepare for a job in industry?

• Complete a project(s)– Will make you a more interesting candidate

• Get an internship(s)– Try out a corporate culture, job type, industry– Experience counts a lot!

• Acquire key skills– Building your professional network, communication,

negotiation, making yourself visible• Find a mentor(s)

– Provides a useful perspective

Finding Industry Jobs

• Identify organizations of interest and do internships – real world and specific organization experience is valued

• Know what positions are within your scope and focus on the right type of position for you

• Plug into on-campus recruiting at your school• Apply through formal methods, but try to make contact with people who

will get your resume into the right hands• Conferences, conferences, conferences – employers attend conferences

specifically to find you• Network with friends, colleagues, and friends of friends to make contacts

and get a foot in the door• Consider startup organizations – higher risk, but greater potential for

increasing the scope of your responsibilities• Demonstrate good communication skills in addition to technical savvy• Ask for what you want!

Academic Career:Research, Teaching and Service

• Research– engage in scientific discovery, involve graduate

and undergraduate students, fund research• Teaching

– active teaching, mentoring, advising• Service

– Departmental – University– Professional

Expected to do all three well!

Different Types of Colleges

•Research universities: Ph.D. program - emphasize research – but teaching, service important•Colleges/universities: M.S. program- emphasize teaching – but research & service also important•Selective liberal arts colleges: B.S. program – emphasize teaching with research a close second, but service important•Teaching-oriented colleges: B.S. program – emphasize teaching & service but research can be expected

Academic Career Ladder

Professorial Ranks– Assistant – Associate– Full– Chaired Professor – endowed

Administrative Ranks Department Chair, Dean, Provost, President

Instructor – teaching & servicePostdoctoral positions - research

What can I do now to prepare for an academic job?

• Research – Apprenticeship: learn from adviser, doing it, and others – How do ideas come?– How to organize research?

• Teaching– Teaching experience, teach some even if don’t have to

• Service – Organizing student organizations/support groups – Women in CS– Working on department committees– Volunteering at conferences

Moving Between Research Lab and Academia

From University to Industry

• Must build real systems• Establish visibility and

knowledge in industry

From Industry to University

• Must continue publishing

• Establish visibility in research community

Thank you!Questions?