<< <i>"This school [Union Graduate School], now in its candidacy for full accreditation from the North Central Association, ..." >>
If that quote is accurate then I would not view his PhD to have been issued from an accredited university and might not accept it as a valid degree. From the information given, there is no guarantee that Kagin performed his work while the university was accredited, nor is there solid information to determine that the university was accredited immediately after its candidacy period mentioned in Kagin's work. Lastly, there might be a time difference of some years between Kagin's work at the university and the publication of the book, which may put even a greater time period between his work and subsequent university accreditation. In my field, this would likely get you fired.
If you were in a university in a history or anthropology department, you would have to take classes in many areas outside of numismatics which perhaps he did not want to do. It's quite reasonable to not want to take general history and anthropology classes if you're not interested in them.
I think this is the issue to which Mark and I have been alluding.
<< <i>In my field, this would likely get you fired. >>
So, who is going to fire Kagin? He owns his own company.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I've read Dr. Kagin's book and I think it is very good.
Always took candy from strangers Didn't wanna get me no trade Never want to be like papa Working for the boss every night and day --"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
I haven't suffered through this whole thread nor read Kagin's "dissertation". I am sure it is quite good and valuable research. However, does the PhD program he apparently completed represent a comprehensive knowledge of the broader field? Was his defense conducted with mentors with superior knowledge of the general subject area? Was there, in fact, any significant peer review of the thesis? Perhaps, the answers are all affirmative. I don't know. But to cite a PhD as if on an even keel with one in another associated field, one would expect this much. Otherwise, it seems to be a facade square in the public eye. Might be great research nonetheless, as others (without PhDs in numismatics) have completed and shared. Is there a link to a PhD of this thiesis at their website? I'd love to check it out, even if I am not too familiar with territorial gold or whatever the subject was again.
BTW, with enough resources, someone can build a seemingly world-class registry set in a year with virtually no knowledge or commitment to numismatics. You can buy anything.
I don't think you can access the entire thesis on-line. It is in the Union Institute library and they seem to have it on line but you need to have a userID to get into it. I found the first two dozen pages online though my university library website but again, access is restricted. I think you might be able to get it through inter-library loan although I haven't actually tried yet.
I never meant any disrespect to D Kagin in my posts. I want that made clear.
As for any type of degree in numismatics from an accredited school, I'd say it would be tough with coins. I can see the class on a field trip to a CoinStar to cherrypick
<< <i>I never meant any disrespect to D Kagin in my posts. I want that made clear.
As for any type of degree in numismatics from an accredited school, I'd say it would be tough with coins. I can see the class on a field trip to a CoinStar to cherrypick >>
No disrepect here either. He is the current head of perhaps the reigning first family of numismatics. Don't see the value of having or pubicizing such a degree personally, especially considering the weight in the hobby already. As I mentioned, I don't know the integrity of the degree with with respect to genuine thorough peer review, compared to a PhD in another field from a major university. Maybe there was or was not. One would hope a meaningful thesis, and it surely had quite a bit of value to it, would be easily available to other numismatists for productive, continual peer review and learning, even of those peers are at a reduced academic level.
Hey, MoC, you are also a coin doctor, no? Sorry, couldn't resist. I know it should be a dead issue.
Comments
<< <i>"This school [Union Graduate School], now in its candidacy for full accreditation from the North Central Association, ..." >>
If that quote is accurate then I would not view his PhD to have been issued from an accredited university and might not accept it as a valid degree. From the information given, there is no guarantee that Kagin performed his work while the university was accredited, nor is there solid information to determine that the university was accredited immediately after its candidacy period mentioned in Kagin's work. Lastly, there might be a time difference of some years between Kagin's work at the university and the publication of the book, which may put even a greater time period between his work and subsequent university accreditation. In my field, this would likely get you fired.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I think this is the issue to which Mark and I have been alluding.
Sorry gents, ladies...
<< <i>In my field, this would likely get you fired. >>
So, who is going to fire Kagin? He owns his own company.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
BTW, with enough resources, someone can build a seemingly world-class registry set in a year with virtually no knowledge or commitment to numismatics. You can buy anything.
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SSDC - Life Member
ANA - Pay As I Go Member
As for any type of degree in numismatics from an accredited school, I'd say it would be tough with coins. I can see the class on a field trip to a CoinStar to cherrypick
<< <i>I never meant any disrespect to D Kagin in my posts. I want that made clear.
As for any type of degree in numismatics from an accredited school, I'd say it would be tough with coins. I can see the class on a field trip to a CoinStar to cherrypick
No disrepect here either. He is the current head of perhaps the reigning first family of numismatics. Don't see the value of having or pubicizing such a degree personally, especially considering the weight in the hobby already. As I mentioned, I don't know the integrity of the degree with with respect to genuine thorough peer review, compared to a PhD in another field from a major university. Maybe there was or was not. One would hope a meaningful thesis, and it surely had quite a bit of value to it, would be easily available to other numismatists for productive, continual peer review and learning, even of those peers are at a reduced academic level.
Hey, MoC, you are also a coin doctor, no? Sorry, couldn't resist. I know it should be a dead issue.
NSDR - Life Member
SSDC - Life Member
ANA - Pay As I Go Member
offer the 3rd Degree.
Camelot