There are a lot of opportunities for UX professionals to learn more about the field. There are various certifications, courses, and classes that can help you understand frameworks, trends, and strategies to use in the space.
But should UX professionals get PhDs? A PhD is obviously a large commitment, but it also allows you to go deep into research, exploring important tenets of UX that can strongly influence a UX career.
According to the 2016 UXPA salary survey, only about 10% of respondents have earned a PhD level of education.
Because it’s uncommon, having a PhD can help you stand apart from other job seekers. Many employers recognize the skills and passion that a PhD requires and are eager to bring experts on board.
If you run your own UX consultancy or work as a freelancer, a PhD can also help communicate your expertise and value to potential clients. In a field where the definition of UX is hard to pinpoint and people come to the table with a bunch of qualifications, having a relevant advanced degree is a wonderful asset.
The skills learned in grad school nicely transfer to UX research and strategy work. Those with PhDs are often problem solvers who are good at learning new things — new terminology, new concepts, new software, new processes, or whatever is needed to get things done.
Grad school also cultivates specific skills that are useful in UX work, like writing, speaking, and justifying decisions. For many PhDs, most public speaking will feel easy compared to orally defending a dissertation to a PhD committee.
PhDs have also learned to be very efficient. As grad students, many have to learn to multitask a heavy load. They took graduate courses, did scientific research, taught classes or labs, spoke at conferences, wrote journal publications, and worked with student or professional organizations. They now get things done quickly because they've learned to juggle multiple projects.
PhD can take up to eight years to complete. Programs can be a shorter term, but you can count on turning over at least five years if you start from the level of a bachelor’s degree.
If you already have a good career going, it might not make sense to step away.
Grad school is very intensive with little time for outside activities. In traditional PhD programs, it isn’t feasible to work another job while enrolled in a program. Some programs actually prohibit outside jobs, especially if the department is funding you.
In short, a PhD forces you to temporarily sacrifice a lot — income, work opportunities and time with friends and family. This can lead to great outcomes eventually, but it can be slow and difficult process.
Many people agree that they often tell people that a PhD is probably not the best avenue for all UX researchers. None of them regret getting theirs, but there are so many other paths into UX that are more pleasant and direct.
When considering the PhD, there are many factors to consider. Here are some things to think about: