Doctorate studies
Doctorate studies, if successfully completed, lead to a PhD, or a Doctor of Philosophy degree, i.e. the most prestigious academical degree.
Generally the amount of time required to complete your doctorate studies is approximately five years, but once you’ve earned it, your financial state will definitely improve considerably, earning you almost $40,000 more per year than a worker with a bachelor’s degree would earn, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The highest academic credential one can earn, doctorate studies, be it a PhD, D.A. (Doctor of Arts) or another doctoral degree, seems for an exclusive elite, considering that only one in one hundred Americans have earned a PhD. In order to successfully complete your doctorate studies you must do rigorous and original research and write a publishable thesis called dissertation.
Doctorate studies programs usually consist of small seminars or independent studies, with the course work divided into three or four semesters of full-time study, and when the coursework is completed the doctoral candidates must pass written and/or oral doctoral qualifying examinations, thus proving their ability of proceeding with independent research. The doctoral qualifying examination must be sustained before a committee of three or five people who have agreed to guide the doctoral candidate’s research, and it is a necessary step before pursuing the dissertation. You successfully complete your doctorate studies and earn the prestigious title of PhD once you’ve orally presented and sustained your final dissertation before the committee. When considering to pursue a doctorate studies degree program, keep in mind that in the application form and the during an interview you must be able to motivate why you are interested in pursuing a PhD, because understanding your own motivation is important for indicating, at least partly, the type of research degree and the likelihood of success, so your advisor and implicitely your institution can properly support and advise you.
The accreditation of programs offering doctorate studies is a serious issue due to the elite and prestige of the doctoral degree, as several diploma mills have been posing as legitimate advanced degree institutions. Only accredited doctorate studies programs can grant a meaningful doctorate that will be recognized by professional organizations, potential employers and board of licensure. In pursuing your doctorate studies degree, check with the U.S. Department of Education in order to make sure that the university providing your doctoral degree is properly accredited.Also, when considering your doctorate studies, take into account that some doctorates require additional licensure before you can actually practice the profession for which you’ve trained, for example a PhD or a PsyD will not suffice if you want to set up your own counseling practice, licensing will be necessary. In addition to the accreditation, make sure that your doctorate studies program is recognized by the licensing agency.
Doctorate studies are an excellent credential, the highest and most prestigious academic achievement, but for career advancement you might need professional affiliation-membership in organizations of fellow experts. It might be a good idea to check if the doctorate studies degree program you’re considering has the stamp of approval of the professional organizations in your chosen field.