Depends on the school.
Actually the way I would put it is ‘depends of if you started for a Masters or a PhD. ‘
If you came to a program just looking for a Masters, then a masters is a fine accomplishment. If you came to a program looking for a PhD, and left with a Masters, it is pretty well accepted than you f-ed up along the way and got a consolation prize (and could hack the classes, if you couldn’t even do that, well no Masters, but they go to some lengths to make sure people can hack the classes).
I don’t care much for Tyson, but if he did collect a PhD from Columbia, he can’t be a complete hack.
So much negativity! Give the man a break, already. He’s entitled, as an American, to express his opinion on warmism any way he wants. I think warmism is bunk, but that’s just MY opinion.
The new “Cosmos” is stunningly beautiful, as was the first one. In fact, Carl’s “Cosmos,” and it’s remarkable vision for its time greatly affected me and the specialty I worked with in my career as a photographer in film and video — bluescreen (and greenscreen) special effects shooting.
But Tyson’s role as a “presenter” on television is the point here, and he is as dignified, capable, “comfortable,” and effective a presenter as ever comes along.
It’s not likely that The Scientific Method” will ever be stifled effectively for long. “The truth will out,” over time, as it always does.
Most of the world — from colleges to media — is deeply bent to the liberal side these days, but that pendulum will also swing in time. “Cosmos,” both new and original, are products of their respective times and the opinions of their writers and shooters.
It’s not our opinion as conservatives, but it DOES bear “doing some honest Science” on it and determine where the real truth is.
I will say this: ultra long term, the sun and bio-produced liquid fuels are the only possible answer to all the energy we will ever need. Some 700 watts, approximately, falls on every square yard (or meter) as long as the sun is out. That’s a lot, and should be the First Source for most ordinary power requirements — as it inescapably will be, long-term.
So, watch “Cosmos” — either one — for its Vision and graphic beauty, and filter the politics in it out with your mind. But let the beauty, power, and visualizations through.
Reputable Scientists of their day believed in “Phlogiston,” too, and that was a crock, as Honest Science eventually determined.
If I needed a spokes of Neil’s type, I’d hire him in a New York second.