Some background, I am a (mostly) stay-at-home, homeschooling mother of 5. I teach as an adjunct at my local university, and I’m entering the third semester of my PhD program there in a humanities field this fall. My question, what are the advantages to completing a doctoral degree (relatively) quickly? Are their negatives to taking longer?

I ask because my motivations for entering the doctoral program were three fold; to complete a personal goal, to learn and research more about a field I love, and to obtain the needed credentials to teach as full-time faculty at my local university once my children have entered high school. Until that distant future date, I’m doing what I love, learning and teaching while still having time for family (I chose not to apply for degree funding as I can cover the costs personally and there is no direct financial need for me to work at this time due to my husband’s job).

Thus, part of me wants to simply take my time, enjoy my courses and dissertation research, focus on my teaching experiences and research opportunities as they come, and balance family obligations with less stress. However, another part of me is concerned that that approach could cause problems for me in the future when I’m seeking full-time academic employment (I’m not necessarily focused on tenure, a lecture position would do). I was full-time over summer, and I felt I had very little downtime with my kids and no real time with my spouse. We've made it work, and I could continue at that pace and just "get it done”, but why? I guess, if I’m going to opt out of time with my family and focus more ardently on the doctorate, I need to know there is an advantage to pursing it more single-mindedly.

For a little background, my main professional goals are to work in archeology, specializing in Near Eastern studies. I would like to teach, first and foremost, but then I would also like to be able to do archeological field work when I get older, and my kids are old enough to be out on their own (I have a three year old and a one year old so that will be awhile).

Currently, my husband and I are both in college. I am finishing my bachelor's this year, and he has three more undergrad years, followed by three more in a professional Physical Therapy program. He would like to stay here to finish his education, but my options are limited, as we have no Near Eastern programs, and our history graduate program is very modern history/european focused. Also, my Anthro advisor has warned me that our grad program is too new and untested to allow our PhDs much in the way of college level teaching opportunities upon completion of the doctorate.

However, since I know I have at least six more years at our current town, I am considering completing my Ph.D. here in archeology/anthro anyway, and then completing either another Ph.D. or some post-doctoral work at a school with a Near Eastern program after my husband finishes his studies.

I'm not afraid of staying in school, I enjoy studying and research. I have watched my parents go through doctoral programs, so I also feel I have an idea of the work that will be involved. However, I don't know if my plan is the best way to proceed. I have considered simply completing my Master's, working for a few year, and then going for my doctorate once we move from our current location. But, since I know I will not get a job in my chosen field (honestly, working as an administrating assistant or forestry department employee are about all I could do in this town even with a master's in anthro), I don't know if this would be an any better option. Any advice?