Switching advisors/grad programs

[kayaker247]

I just started my master's in anthropology in a small anthropology department. I don't like my advisor and it's clear from her lack of attention that she is not concerned with helping her grad students become high-achievers. Additionally, she is not ethical in her practice of anthropology or her guidance of students. I've debated switching advisors, but she is tenured and people in the department don't like getting in her way. Because of that, I'm not sure it is worth the headache of switching advisors--or if it is even feasible to switch advisors. I don't know who to ask about this in the department since I'm new and I don't really have any professors that I can trust yet.

I've been considering switching to a master's of public health program. It fits my research interests better and possibly my career interests. I've become more interested in applied methodologies and I'm not sure that anthropology is a good fit for me anymore.

If I had known about the public health program at this university, I would've applied to it. I have a 5 year fellowship through the university that I could most likely transfer to the public health program.

I'm wondering if I can just transfer into the master's of public health program for the spring or if I'll have to apply and stay in the department of anthropology for the spring semester.

My questions are 1) Has anyone had issues like these with their advisor? Any advice? 2) Has anyone switched graduate programs? Any advice about switching?

Thanks in advance!

[rising_star]

1) Yes, plenty of people here have had issues with their advisor. What's unclear to me is how severe these issues are. What do you mean when you say that she's not paying you any attention? What are you expecting of her? Why do you think she's not setting you up to succeed?

2) To switch programs, you're going to need to apply to and be accepted by the MPH program. It's not as simple as transferring, though you may be able to start taking courses in the MPH program before being formally accepted.

[kayaker247]

Thanks for the advice, rising_star.

By not paying me any attention, I mean that I've only met with her twice this semester. She stops answering her email for weeks and never responds to emails overall. Our program moves very quickly, so I have two years to complete a master's degree and three more to complete the Ph.D. So, it is necessary for the advisor to work closely with their students. Additionally, she has violated some professorial ethics and has encouraged students to have improper relations with research subjects.

Ethically, I'm extremely opposed to her.

What do you think about switching advisors but remaining in the anthropology department?

[fuzzylogician]

Given your description of your advisor's ethics, I think it's a bit beside the point to debate whether or not she's appropriately accessible. It sounds like you should find yourself another advisor whose ethics you agree with. If you can find someone within your department, that's the easiest thing to do since it will not require re-applying to graduate schools. I'd start there, if possible. Additionally, your current situation may also be worth talking about with more advanced students, if there are any that you trust and respect and work with your current advisor. Maybe they can illuminate a side of your advisor's behavior that you are misunderstanding. As it stands, I'm sure that your opinion of her behavior in this regard is coloring how you think about her in general and it'll be good to clarify what is going on so you can make your decisions based on accurate information.

[rising_star]

FWIW, my MA and PhD programs are organized along a similar timeline to yours. I have rarely met with either my MA or PhD advisor three times or more in a semester. This semester, I've had one 15 minute phone conversation with my advisor, exchanged few short emails, and that's been it. In the first year of my MA (which I finished in 2 years), I only met with my advisor a couple of times since I still needed to figure out my project and there wasn't a whole lot they could do to help me with that.

The ethical thing is a much bigger concern, particularly if others in the discipline are aware of these ethical concerns. You don't want to spend your entire career associated with someone whose ethics are questionable. The wisdom of switching advisors and remaining in the department is really department-specific. In some places (like my own graduate program), this happens with relative ease, little fuss, and no objections from the faculty involved. But, this may not be the case in your program. Before you do anything, consult your department's program handbook. There are two approaches for handling this. The first is to talk to your DGS and mention that you are considering working with someone else and ask about what the procedures for doing so are and if ze thinks doing so will offend anyone. The second is to start meeting with potential new advisors about your interests and see if they are even willing to take you on as a student. Good luck! Let us know what happens.

[ANDS!]

I was going to echo the same thing Star said; especially at the master level, I wouldn't expect more interaction from your PROGRAM advisor beyond "Hey how are classes going. . .?" If it is an old program, I would suspect they have a pretty well oiled plan to these things, and most likely expect first year masters students to be primarily engaged in completing their coursework and picking up research ideas along the way (through internships, or seminars). Second year when you write your thesis they may start to engage you more actively, though you still might find that engagement lacking if they aren't doing work you are particularly interested in.

I'm more interested in these "ethical" violations you speak of as an anthropology major:

Additionally, she has violated some professorial ethics and has encouraged students to have improper relations with research subjects.