Doctoral Degrees

As a master degree, a doctoral degree is a post-graduate degree. It usually follows the completion of a bachelor and master degree. However, some doctoral program does admit students who do not have a master degree. A doctoral degree is a “terminal degree”, or the highest and final degree available in a particular field of study or discipline. Most doctoral programs require a full-time commitment, unlike bachelor and master degrees that can be completed on a part-time basis. Traditionally, doctoral programs were primarily academic or research-focused. Today, a majority of doctoral programs are designed to help students acquire advanced skills and knowledge in preparation for a career. A doctoral degree typically takes anywhere from three to five years to complete.

There are four general types of doctoral degrees. These include:

• Professional Doctorate – As one might deduce, a professional doctorate is a doctoral degree for a specific profession. For example, the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a professional doctorate in business.
• Research Doctorate – These doctorates are research-oriented. The PhD and Doctor of Philosophy are doctorate degrees that focus almost exclusively on research.
• Higher Doctorate – These doctorates are very uncommon in the United States. Countries including France, Ireland and the United Kingdom offer higher doctorate degrees. These degrees are tiered search degrees.
• Honorary Doctorate – These doctorate degrees are awarded as a way of honouring or recognizing the contribution of an individual in a specific field or discipline.