Separate masters during PhD dissertation research?

[Neurone]

Just wondering if anyone has or know someone who has worked on a separate master's degree during their PhD dissertation research. I do neuro and was thinking about getting an MA in stats. Did you have the time? Did it piss off your PI or was she/he supportive? Did your graduate school know? Did you pay out of pocket or get financial aid?

[cogneuroforfun]

I don't think that would be very easy or accepted by your PI or program. You'll certainly need to learn some stats, but that's part of your PhD, since it will help your research. Getting an MA would be overkill and take way too much time from research, which is more important. Look at it this way: you'll probably be done with classes by your second year in the PhD, so the final three (or four) years of your PhD is pure research. Do you really think its a good idea to try to fit another one or two years of coursework into your schedule during what should be the most productive research years of your PhD?

[socialpsych]

I know of several people in psych who've gotten an MA in stats. I thought it (MA in stats for science PhDs) was pretty common and am surprised at cogneuro's response. Perhaps it depends on your school/program. Have any of the other students in your program done that before? If not, have any of them considered it? Talking to them would probably be more informative than talking to us.

Edited December 24, 2009 by socialpsych

[Neurone]

I'm in my 2nd year and although we did have a stats course, it was pretty basic (it ended in simple regression). The MA in stats covers a lot of things pertinent to my work so I think it would be useful. I'm in the middle of my 2nd year of the PhD and finished with coursework. The MA in stats is only 8 courses, and these have sections offered at night for working students. I figured I'd take one night class a semester and take 2/semester when I'm just writing. So, I don't think it's going to be terribly disruptive. I've heard of people doing this, and heard someone else in the program talking about it. I'll see if anyone actually has. If any other readers have actually done this, I'd of course like to hear about your experience.