Canadian PhD
Question
I am about to complete my MBA in International Business from University of Houston-Victoria. My husband and I are planning to go to Canada for 3-4 years. I want to start my PhD in business from an AACSB-accredited business school in Canada. Can I get a job as a professor at any U.S. university after having a degree from Canada? How are Canadian PhD degrees regarded in the U.S.?
Answer
If you're interested in teaching business at the university level, your employment prospects look good! According to a report by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), by 2012, there will be a projected shortfall of approximately 2,500 PhD holders who are capable of teaching college business. Your talents should be highly desirable at U.S. universities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that post-secondary teaching positions will grow rapidly--23 percent--by 2016. Business, in particular, is singled out as a strong field for growth.
As to your question of how Canadian PhD's are regarded in the United States, there is some anecdotal evidence that they aren't as widely respected in the U.S. as those earned here, although there are no official statistics supporting this. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that Canadian universities prefer Canadian PhD graduates, so your luck may be better there. Essentially, graduate degree programs are the same in both countries.
You might also look into online doctoral programs, which can be completed from anywhere in the world. If you're interested in earning your doctorate degree at a U.S. school, you can do so from Canada through online PhD programs.
