What is PhD?
Literally translated, the meaning of Ph.D. is “Doctor of Philosophy”, because when we look at the root of the term, Ph.D. is an abbreviation of “Philosophy Doctor”. However, over time, the meaning of the acronym expanded beyond philosophy.
What does Ph.D. mean?
According to Daniel Costa, local coordinator of Euraxess, PhD is a title awarded to those who reach the end of their studies in a certain area. And it doesn’t have to be in philosophy: the Greek origin of the word “Philosophize” means “love of knowledge”.
This means that “Philosophy Doctor” can be understood as a Doctor in some area of knowledge. Therefore, the title in practice is awarded to people who reach the highest academic level in their field of study – and the meaning of a Ph.D. is, strictly speaking, the same as that of a doctorate.
The difference is that the acronym refers to a specific type of Doctorate, focused on research – thus differentiating itself from others such as MD (Medical Doctor), JD (Juris Doctor, Doctor of Law), or Ed. D (Doctor of Education, Doctor of Education).
Meaning of Ph.D. and other types of PhD
It is more common for doctoral programs to have an academic focus – which is not necessarily the case for programs abroad. In the United States, for example, the government recognizes numerous doctorates with a focus on professional practice.
The level of education is equivalent, but academic and practical programs have different curricula and different purposes. Other doctorates offered include:
- DBA – Doctorate in Business Administration – Professional Focus
- Ed.D. – Education Doctorate – Professional or Academic Focus
- JD – Juris Doctor (Doctorate in Law) – Professional Focus
- MD – Medical Doctor (Doctor of Medicine) – Professional Focus
- Th.D. – Theology and Religious Studies Doctorate – Academic Focus
Professionally focused doctorates are practice-oriented. Anyone who obtains a DBA, for example, would be orienting their career towards taking up management positions in business; who obtains an MD, orienting their career to medical practice.
The Ph.D. and Th.D, on the other hand, take a more theoretical approach and aim to advance existing knowledge in a given area. This is because, in order to obtain doctorates with a professional focus, it is not necessary to produce any original research.
Discover 4 benefits of meditation in studies
Whoever is applying for a Ph.D. must conduct research, write it in the format of a dissertation and submit it for evaluation by a committee of experts – who will say whether the research contains any advance in knowledge or not.
Most professionals who obtain this degree direct their careers towards academia – whether as researchers or university professors. However, this is not always the case. European research and higher education institutions, in particular, have been striving to promote more interaction between academia and the labor market.
How long does it last?
Depending on the program, it can take between 4 and 8 years to complete. Typically, Ph.D. programs include two or three years of study and a dissertation – which is an independent research project designed to build new knowledge in your field and be of publication-worthy quality.
In general, the PhD includes a combination of lectures and carrying out research projects in partnership with the guiding professor. Many programs require students to also serve as teaching assistants, teaching undergraduate students. Some fields, such as applied psychology, may also require an internship of a year or more.
Who can do PhD?
After completing a bachelor’s degree, a student can follow two paths to obtain a Ph.D. Some doctoral programs admit students who have only a bachelor’s degree, while others require a master’s degree beforehand. In both cases, admission to the Ph.D. is required, proving scientific production relevant to the topic and presenting, in many cases, academic and professional history.
What is the meaning of a Ph.D.?
According to Daniel Costa, local coordinator of Euraxess, the meaning of Ph.D. comes from the Latin expression “Philosophize doctor”, a title that was granted to those who reached the end of studies in a certain area. And it didn’t have to be in philosophy: the word “Philosophize” refers to its Greek origin, from “love of knowledge”.
Are there other types of a doctorate?
In the US, the government recognizes numerous doctorates with a focus on professional practice. The level of education is equivalent, but academic and practical programs have different curricula and different purposes. Among them are MD – Medical Doctor (Doctor of Medicine) and JD – Juris Doctor (Doctor of Laws).
How long does the Ph.D. last?
Depending on the program, it can take between 4 and 8 years to complete. Typically, Ph.D. programs include two or three years of study and a dissertation – which is an independent research project designed to build new knowledge in your field and be of publication-worthy quality.
Who can do a PhD?
After completing a bachelor’s degree, a student can follow two paths to obtain a Ph.D. Some doctoral programs admit students who have only a bachelor’s degree, while others require a master’s degree beforehand. In both cases, admission to the Ph.D. is required, proving relevant scientific production.
