The RAND institute came to a similar conclusion about PhD programs in science and engineering... http://www.rand.org/pubs/issue_papers/IP241.html http://www.ra

The RAND institute came to a similar conclusion about PhD programs in science and engineering... http://www.rand.org/pubs/issue_papers/IP241.html http://www.rand.org/pubs/issue_papers/IP241.html While most of the article is spent refuting the notion of a shortage of scientists and engineers, there is a section at the end with some interesting suggestions for how to improve these degree programs. One particularly interesting approach would be to go to the professional doctorate model (JD and MD programs are far more predictable in length with vastly lower attrition rates). Unfortunately, even the RAND report making these suggestions acknowledges that this is very unlikely. With such a competitive marketplace, I don't see how 3 year PhD students without an extensive dissertation or publication background would compete with 7 year PhD students for academic jobs. Industry might be more interested in these students, but as the economist pointed out, MS degrees seem to be just as competitive in industry in terms of earnings. JD and MD programs confer an exclusive right to practice, something that a EngD or SciD probably wouldn't do. So I don't really see the student demand for this kind of thing either (if you know you're industry bound, why would you do a longer degree when a shorter one will serve you just as well?).