Rethinking the Doctorate from a Liberal Arts College

Abstract

The authors in this volume evaluate whether universities have chosen to increase the value of a doctorate as a source of intellectual capital or whether they are wedded to the degree as a certification and dollar producing endeavor. This chapter reflects on the doctorate as a source of intellectual capital, but not solely as a mere instrument to help the doctoral candidates develop the skills to conduct research in a particular field of inquiry so that they can advance the frontiers of knowledge. It focuses on the need to embed this approach in a broader process that will allow the candidates to develop additional advisory and pedagogical skills so that they can be well equipped to teach college students how to become life-long learners and researchers them¬selves.