A PhD is the crowning achievement of anyone’s academic career. Every one of us starts at the same point – preschool, to elementary school to middle and high school. Some of us go on to college or university, and some of us get passionate and interested enough in a subject to stay there even longer than a basic bachelor’s.
Because let’s face it – in today’s job market, an undergraduate degree gets you through the same door that a high school degree could 50 years ago. A bachelor’s degree is what most employers prefer – whether you’re applying for a receptionist position or an entry-level job in a specialized field.
In fact, according to Northeastern University, as much as 80% of jobs that are advertised online require an undergraduate degree. This is why a lot of students decide to make themselves more employable by choosing to continue their education through a master’s degree and then a PhD.
A PhD is a Doctor of Philosophy in a given subject – it is earned by phd students who research, write and complete a thesis – an original body of research that significantly contributes new knowledge, learning, and data to their field of study. It is the highest academic degree that a person is able to achieve.
It’s not an easy education funnel for most students- a few will actually pursue a degree after degree because a lot of them pursue careers and only later decide to “go back to school”. This is common sense – you have to taste the real world before you decide to commit to something that most people consider one of the hardest personal challenges of their lives.
In fact, the average age of a PhD graduate in the United States is 33 years old, and it takes the average student about 8.2 years to complete their degree. Since this is the “average”, it means that a lot of people are well into their middle age by the time they start to realize that a PhD is what they want to pursue. Sometimes, people don’t stop at one PhD and decide to get another.
This is usually frowned upon, as a PhD often makes you an absolute expert in one narrow field – it’s not often that people can make these two degrees complement each other – this is usually done if a person wants to completely change their field and pursue a completely different area of research.
Tip: How should you spell PhD? This can be written as a Ph.D. or PhD – both are correct ways of spelling. There are some guidelines that state that Ph.D. should only be used in North American English, while PhD is the correct spelling for the European continent. Having said that, there are sources from both geographical locations that write both Ph.D and PhD in their publications and websites.
Now that you know WHAT a PhD IS… Let’s move forward into the nitty gritty! Use these Page Jumps to navigate this page!
- What is an honorary PhD?
- History of the PhD
- History of the PhD in the United States
- From philosophy to the Ig Nobel Prize – What areas of study can we become doctors in?
- So you want a PhD – How to get started
- Why Enroll in a PhD Program
- Additional PhD FAQs
- Final Thoughts
What is an honorary PhD?
An honorary PhD, or honoris causa, is given to a person who often already has a PhD, but did not matriculate in a given institution, has taken no courses or done formal studies there. It is meant as a way to honor a body of work, research, and achievement of a particular person – very often a visitor or a guest of a particular institution.
An honorary PhD is meant to recognize a person’s efforts and accomplishments without them going through a full curriculum. Wondering if you’ll ever get your honorary PhD? Take a look at these recipients and see if you might fit in their ranks:
Benjamin Franklin – Honorary master’s from The College of William and Mary in 1759 and honorary PhD from the University of St. Andrews and from Oxford for his scientific research.
Maya Angelou – Received over thirty honorary degrees for her writing, as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
J.K. Rowling – Honored by the University of Edinburg for her writing after she published five books from the Harry Potter series.
Yoko Ono – Was awarded an honorary PhD from the Pratt Institute.
Hillary Clinton – This American politician got awarded two honorary doctorate degrees – one from the Trinity College Dublin and the other from Queen’s University Belfast.
History of the PhD
To have full appreciation on any subject, it’s worth to take a look at its history and evolution throughout time. Let’s start in Medieval Europe. If you look at what people are studying now, you’ll see a lot of STEM subjects – Science, Mathematics, Biology, Genetics, Computer Science, and so on.
In Medieval times, there were four main courses of study, and they were open to men. The subject of study was theology, medicine, law, and the arts. These represent the four most important scholarly topics a serious person could engage in Europe to Universities, like the University of Paris, the University of Oxford and the University of Bologna.
In fact, it was the University of Paris or the Sorbonne, that first introduced doctoral degrees in theology and philosophy at first in the Middle Ages. Theology was very important to people’s studies at the time, because most educational institutions, the Sorbonne included, were connected to cathedrals and religious orders. These schools were established to educate future priests, but the nobility and wealthy merchants would send their sons there in order to gain a valuable education.
Very often, students who studied at these universities were afforded special protection – if they got in trouble with the law they were treated as a member of the clergy because they were considered almost like temporary clergymen. Universities were considered places of refuge and safety for many.
In some countries, a “cathedral” is the governing body of a certain group of scholars at a university. The term can also be used when referring to a lecturing pulpit.
The first doctoral degree recorded was given in Paris, around the year 1150. In UK universities, the first doctorates were given out in the 1800s at Durham University, and later at Cambridge. These were DS – or ScDs. In the “olden times,” it wasn’t necessary to produce independent research like it is now – it was enough to simply study a lot and become a scholar.
History of the PhD in the United States
The United States was always relatively isolated from the rest of the world, and a doctoral degree was not required to teach and lecture at any of its major universities until the early 1900s. The fact of the matter is that American universities were slow to start awarding PhDs, with first the first PhD in the US being awarded by Yale in 1861.
In the early 1900s, there were six universities that were awarded PhDs, but only about one-third of the PhDs awarded were considered in alignment with legitimate expectations of what a PhD program should be. At this time, it was popular to study in European countries, at British and German universities. American schools lacked the clout and reputation that could match most European universities – and their level of education was questionable, to say the least.
What was the problem? Like many students today will agree, funding is probably the most important factor behind a successful PhD program. In Europe, governments were more eager to fund graduate schools or doctorate programs and research done on their walls.
It wasn’t until American schools got private funding that things started to take off. Fellowships like the Rockefeller Foundation and other privately funded fellowships and awards contributed to the amount of serious and quality research being done at American institutions, especially ones that would later be known as the Ivy League.
Today, the US has some of the best schools and universities in the world, and getting a professional doctorate here is a challenging but rewarding and very structured experience. There are over 282 American academic institutions that are authorized to award a PhD degree. Of course, their admission, funding, and difficulty vary from one university to another. Some may offer part-time studies while others concentrate on full-time PhD studies.
From philosophy to the Ig Nobel Prize – What areas of study can we become doctors in?
Is it possible to get a PhD in a little-known field? The answer is yes – there are of course the “typical” or most common areas of study and research. There are doctoral programs in areas like
Health:
- Genetics
- Pathology
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
- Pharmacology
- Immunology
Law:
- J.D. degree (Doctor of Jurisprudence)
- Criminal Justice
- International Law
- Doctor of Juris Utriusque
- Legum Doctor (LL.D.)
- Doctor of Juridical Science
- Doctor of Canon Law
Education:
- Education and Development
- Engineering Education
- Science Education
- Art Education
- Individual Interdisciplinary
- Physical Education
- Educational Administration
Science:
- Doctor of Engineering
- Social Science
- Psychology
- Physics
- Mathematics
Here are the different types of doctoral degrees you can get and their academic abbreviations:
Honorary Degrees or Higher Degrees:
Dsc/ScD – Doctor of Science (STEM)
DLitt/LitD – Doctor of Science (Arts and Humanities)
DD/DDiv – Doctor of Divinity (Religious Studies)
Th.D – Doctor of Theology (Theology)
Professional Degrees
DBA – Business Managment
EngD/PhD – Engineering
EdD/D.Ed – Education
DSocSci – Social Sciences
DArch – Architecture
Academic
PhD – Doctor of Philosophy (all subjects)
If you’re wondering if your niche is too narrow, too overlooked, or too out there for a PhD – think again. You don’t have to look through PhD programs in STEM or literature in order to get fulfillment. Erich von Daniken who committed his life to the exploration of ancient aliens and a recipient of the infamous Ignobel Prize has received an honorary PhD from La Universidad Boliviana.
In fact, here are some of the strangest PhDs known to higher education – all complete with intensive original research and academic achievement:
- Do Woodpeckers Get Headaches? This study might sound strange but the research is in fact very valuable to people who study brain damage and research how our brains react to trauma. Woodpeckers literally hit their heads against trees over 12,000 times a day, and have developed a sophisticated system to keep their brains protected from the constant stress – take that, computer science!
- Do Cabbies Have Bigger Brains? This is a London – based study that includes research on a dying breed of people who actually have to remember every street and intersection in London. It takes about three years to become a London cabbie and work as a driver. You can’t use online maps or GPS units. The academic study takes a look at the neuron connections in the cabbies’ brains in order to determine if all that time spent studying actually made their brains bigger.
If you want to take a moment to read about more crazy Ph.D. degrees, read our article on unusual PhD doctorate degrees – it’s worth some thought. Maybe you’ll become inspired and your academic idea won’t seem so crazy after all. After all – what is a PhD degree if not a completely new discovery of knowledge and possibilities?
So you want a PhD – How to get started
There are a few phases of getting a PhD. You can get started by reviewing them and getting an idea of what you’re signing up for.
Once you know what you want to research (remember that you will need to produce original research in your field), you will need to look over what institutions offer PhD programs in the field that you want. Often, students will travel significant distances in order to live near a school that matches their requirements and needs perfectly.
In a nutshell, getting a PhD will consist of several stages – a lot of people break it down into many, but it can be summed up in two parts:
Phase One – Exploration
This phase takes about three years. During this time you will take courses in your academic fields and finish with a series of exams and possibly teaching positions at their institutions. In some fields, teaching undergraduate courses or working with members of the faculty will be a requirement. Other fields will require clinical practice or internships.
Phase Two – Active Consolidation
Phase two is spent on research and writing your dissertation and putting all of your experience and original research together. This is where you take your research and put it together. Dissertations may be as short as 50 pages and as long as 500 pages or more. A typical dissertation consists of:
- In-depth literature and resource overview
- Outline of methodology
- Analisis
- Oral Exam
One of the most important initial steps that PhD candidates take in their journey through research and academic challenges is picking the right educational settings and PhD program for them. It’s an important decision because it will tie you to that institution for the rest of your life – and at least for several very important and strenuous years. If you’re wondering how to get a PhD, it’s best that you start here.
When you’re considering a doctorate degree, ask yourself these questions:
- What subject do I want to research?
- What university is considered a top choice for this niche?
- Who has the best funding in this niche?
- Where do I have the most freedom as a researcher?
- Is there a field of study that I’m interested in that needs new research? (These are often completely funded)
- Are there possible programs that offer their PhD studies online or part-time?
- If I can’t get full funding, how will I supplement my income?
- Do I need the help of a formal advisor to guide me through the whole application process?
These are just a few of the serious but basic questions you should ask yourself. Because a lot of PhD students start their PhD programs mid-career, they already have a family, children, and responsibilities. They can’t dive into research head first – they have to consider others. This is why picking the right institution and program to continue your higher education is important if you want to maintain your work-life balance and keep a high academic standing even if it’s hard.
Read on about funding here:
PhD funding and getting your education paid for
Funding a PhD is surprisingly easier than funding your earlier degrees, and that’s true for any academic institution. The fact is, that PhD students do important work in their field – they research, teach, and conduct studies and their work might contribute to a higher education institution to become attractive to other students.
Often, the research conducted at a university will become well known in the niche, and even well outside of it, attracting more funding, students, and media attention. This is all very valuable, and good PhD programs will receive more attention and funding than your average bachelor’s degree.
Because phd involves a lot of money, many doctoral candidates, both local or international students, whether on-campus or distance education, often end up torn between enrolling a phd research program or just simply putting those dreams on hold.
How to get funding for your PhD? We have written an extensive report on how to get PhD funding, different sources of funding, and where to apply, but let’s have a short summary.
How to fund your Professional Doctorate:
- Most STEM PhD degrees are funded by the institution. They are needed and a “hot” subject, so it’s easy to find and fight for a spot that is entirely paid for.
- Crowdfunding – if you’re thinking about a thesis that has the potential to help a lot of people, has a human interest factor, or is simply interesting, make a video about your research and try to get it funded through sites like Kickstarter, Patreon, or GoFundMe – here is a list of some of the best crowdfunding sites.
- Student loans
- Stipends
- Fellowships
Many phd students can also look for an institution that offers PhD degrees as a part-time option. This is a path that is simply cheaper and allows you to work at a slower but more affordable pace.
Why Enroll in a PhD Program
A doctorate degree is both extremely challenging and financially draining. Spanning for about 3 years (some go for four), the percentage of doctoral students who start a doctorate degree and later drop out or fail is very high compared to any other PhD degrees.
Considering the cost of tuition fees and time you need to devote to a research degree, becoming a PhD student is something you should not take lightly.
Thus, it is important to have your reasons to enroll in a doctoral degree firmly grounded to avoid losing interest in the long run. Here are some common reasons prospective students for doctorate degrees should know to help you come up with an intelligent decision upon applying for a PhD degree.
Professional doctorates are worthy investments.
While it’s not a necessity to have a firm outlook of what your future career will be prior to a PhD application, this actually helps. Just like a master’s degree, a PhD program is like the academic transcripts of professional training that enables a PhD student to finish a program armed with the right scientific knowledge.
PhD students must set their eyes on what lies ahead, making sure that they understand that a doctoral degree is a personal investment and not merely an excuse to postpone the end of a student era.
PhD graduates become better qualified for top-level work.
While an undergraduate degree is already a qualification, advanced degrees give you so much more than that– the personal development, professional skills, and of course the valuable connections you can make with industry and academic experts, and your fellow professional doctorates students, during the whole duration of your doctoral program.
Many who lack a thorough understanding of what a PhD research degree is think of it as nothing more than adding more letters after a name, written on a fancy paper. A phd program is so much more than that. With rigorous research and research methods involved in a degree, coupled with the expensive costs of tuition fees that go with a PhD program, a PhD level class develops you professionally and lets you gain transferable skills so that you will be prepared and ready to join the world of work.
As a PhD holder, you can contribute to the world’s knowledge.
If you are into human services, or you want to contribute your existing knowledge to the world within your field (academically and professionally), you have to be knowledgeable in your area of study inside-out. For those highly specialized areas and STEM subjects, you can share your knowledge in your field by getting a graduate or master’s degree.
Simply put, while an undergraduate degree lets you understand your existing knowledge in your field, a graduate school allows you to contribute that knowledge to others.
Advanced degrees get you recognized academically.
A doctoral degree will provide you a solid avenue to explore ideas and theories and to conduct PhD research. Phd involves a lot of research proposal. For doctoral students, this is a great chance to conduct research and make a thesis proposal that is particularly exceptional.
When your current research is done satisfactorily, chances are you will be recognized and noted for your achievement by the academic community. After successful completion, who knows you might get invited to speak and talk about your research at a conference. You can even get accreditation on your work that’s published in peer reviewed journals.
After sufficient progress, students who wish to go on with their original research and applied doctorate study have the chance to gain international recognition, not to mention potentially become a notable expert in your field.
Research training degrees allow you to work with the best.
As PhD candidates, you will all be surrounded with leading thinkers and professionals in your field, from guest experts to faculty members, and even fellow graduates. Being around the people that impress you and you look up to, and armed with the best student’s knowledge that combines taught elements, working hard and staying motivated becomes a lot easier.
A PhD also gives you access to valuable material resources. This includes high-end equipment in your field like nanotechnology systems, or the latest technologies such as spectral imaging scanners.
A doctoral degree provides helpful connections.
A doctoral degree is a lot different than a college degree in so many ways. For instance, during your college years, your student life was more on sleeping late, socializing, cramming for an exam, and with nothing to worry much. A doctoral degree, one the other hand, is different. This time, it is about connecting with the right people professionally– not only with your fellow professional doctoral classmates but also with faculty members.
While you locked yourself up in the library to earn your college academic degree, being a graduate student is more than just doing your original research and targeting satisfactory progress. Grad school is more on making connections and networking like a pro. This is the time to develop your “people skills”. Sounds scary? Maybe. But remember, networking should be your friend.
The reason why you should have the right network of people is because it will be easier for you to connect with like-minded individuals. If you look at from a professional context, networking helps you collaborate and discuss your skills and knowledge within a professional sector.
Plus, making professional connections with those who already completed their research training degrees is potentially a good way to make amazing friendships as well. Who knows, your professional doctorate friends might be the closest people you will end up sticking to for life.
A professional doctorate gives you more in-depth knowledge.
In a professional doctorate program, after passing your qualifying examination, you are expected to conduct and create a personal research proposal alongside study topics. This current research will help you develop your ideas and thoughts about something that is interesting to you.
Joining meetings and extra curricular activities, or hearing from lecturers and guest speakers talk about your specific field, are some of the things that make a doctorate degree so multidisciplinary and diverse. For those with a keen academic interest, the answer to the very common “what is a PhD, and why should you enroll?”, the answer is very obvious.
A PhD level education makes you stand out career-wise.
Over the years, we have seen the faster growth of students attending graduate school because a college degree alone is not enough to raise the interest of potential employers. In a traditional society where having a college degree is a more of a rite than a luxury, getting a graduate degree these days have never been this important. Employers will prefer those with a PhD over those who don’t have.
A PhD program helps you achieve your long-term goals.
There are some students who want to continue their Phd to acheive their long-term degree plans. If you’re embarking on a job in the academe, getting a PhD is an important requirement that will allow you to continue your research and teach university students. It also helps that you try and gain a teaching practice all throughout your phd programs by providing seminars or lectures to first year college graduates.
Additional PhD FAQs
Is there a higher degree than a PhD?
No, the Doctor of Philosophy is the highest degree you can get at any academic institution.
Is it worth getting a PhD?
Yes, getting a PhD degree greatly improves your chances of employment and monetary compensation.
Do I need a Bachelor’s to apply for a PhD?
Yes, you do need a bachelor’s degree – unless you are being awarded an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree that doesn’t require academic work.
Do I need a Master’s Degree to apply for a PhD?
Some people who decide to go for their PhD degree do not have a masters. They often start about 4 years after graduation and get their bachelor’s degree.
Can I get a PhD in an unrelated field to my bachelor’s or master’s?
Yes, although it’s relatively difficult, if only from an academic standpoint.
Are PhDs more employable?
Yes – especially in the areas of STEM and academic research. It’s easier to find high-level work when you have a PhD.
What are the most profitable PhDs?
Some of the most profitable PhDs, whether in-person or online are:
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Chemical Engineering
- Finance
- Law
- Psychology
Final Thoughts:
What is a PhD? In its simplest explanation, a PhD degree is your way towards learning and researching more in a field of study that you are truly passionate about. By getting a doctoral degree, you will become a part of an elite population. You will also have the chance to achieve your goals in your field that is not available to others. Plus, whether you choose to become a teacher, an author, a business administration specialist, or an innovator, your additional training, research, and knowledge are enough to consider you an expert in your field.
