What Is a Doctorate Degree?

If you are looking to further your education after obtaining a bachelor's or master's degree, you might consider pursuing a doctorate degree. Some professions, such as doctors, lawyers and university professors, require one to possess a doctorate degree before entering the field. Continue reading for more information about a doctorate degree.

Doctorate Degree

A doctorate degree is the highest degree awarded by colleges and universities in the United States. A typical doctorate degree program can take up to five years to complete, and includes live or online courses, a final examination and a dissertation. The most common doctorate degrees are found in the following list:

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
  • Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
  • Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
  • Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Doctorate Degree: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree may be obtained in many areas, including business, education, engineering, social science and life sciences. In most cases, this type of doctorate degree is required for one to become a university professor. A researcher in the areas of science, engineering or social science must also typically hold a Ph.D.

Doctorate Degree: Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)

Medical doctors and researchers in any field of medicine must hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. Many top universities in the U.S. have a school of medicine which grants these doctorate degrees. An M.D. program typically consists of a combination of classroom instruction and clinical internships.

Doctorate Degree: Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

A Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) might be pursued by those seeking administrative positions in the field of education. Secondary school superintendents, university department heads and educational researchers are examples of positions that might require one to have an Ed.D.

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

A Juris Doctor (J.D.) is a doctorate degree in law. Completion of three years of study in a J.D. program approved by the American Bar Association, www.abanet.org, is required to obtain this degree. Courses in civil and criminal law, property law, legal methods and constitutional law are usually at the core of many J.D. programs.

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