doctor means phd

Doctorate vs. PhD: Understanding the Key Differences [2024]

If you’re interested in pursuing a doctoral degree, you may wonder about the differences between a doctorate vs. PhD.

A doctorate and a PhD are both terminal degrees that allow you to develop specialized knowledge and skills in your chosen field. But these degrees typically have different areas of focus, requirements, and career outcomes.

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Understanding the difference between PhD and doctorate can help you pick the degree that most aligns with your career aspirations and interests.

What’s the Difference Between Doctorate vs. PhD Degrees?

A doctorate and a Ph.D. are the highest college degrees students can earn. Graduates of both types of programs receive the title of “doctor” and may qualify for specialized careers in their fields.

But, while doctorate programs focus on professional competencies and knowledge, PhD programs prioritize academic research.

What Is a Doctorate Degree?

A doctorate degree is a professional degree that enables students to become experts in a specific field or industry. This degree focuses on applying academic research and theories in the workplace to improve performance and solve problems.

Courses vary by field and program but typically emphasize professional skills like collaboration, leadership, and project management. Additionally, many doctorate programs require students to complete a capstone project that addresses real issues affecting their industry.

Graduates often qualify for advanced administrative, leadership, and managerial positions in their fields.

What Is a PhD Degree?

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is an opportunity to strengthen your academic research skills and generate original knowledge. This degree trains students to become independent scholars who conduct cutting-edge research in their areas of expertise.

PhD curriculums cover advanced concepts and theories in a discipline. They also teach students qualitative and quantitative methodologies to design studies and conduct research. Additionally, most PhD programs require students to produce a dissertation that contributes fresh knowledge to the field.

Current professionals with PhDs often work as academic researchers and professors. They may also secure government and industry jobs.

Key Differences Between a PhD vs. Doctorate Degree

What’s a PhD degree ? What’s a doctorate degree? The main difference between a doctorate and a PhD is their area of focus. A doctorate prioritizes applied knowledge and professional skills, while a PhD emphasizes academic research. Let’s compare some more differences between a professional doctoral degree vs. PhD.

A doctorate enables students to become expert practitioners in their discipline. Students study existing concepts and theories and learn how to apply these ideas in the workplace.

By contrast, a PhD prepares students to conduct innovative research and educate others.

Goals and Outcomes

Doctorate programs help prepare students for senior administrative and leadership positions in their industries. They also help students enhance their professional competencies and tackle industry-specific challenges.

Students who pursue PhDs aim to advance their disciplines by generating new knowledge. They may also publish peer-reviewed research and teach undergraduate courses.

Student Population

Doctorate degrees are designed for current or aspiring working professionals who want to become industry leaders. These programs also enable students to increase their knowledge and credibility.

PhD programs attract students who want to expand their knowledge of research methodologies and theories. These learners also frequently pursue academic careers.

Admissions Requirements

Doctorate and PhD programs typically require students to have bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Additionally, prospective doctorate students may be asked to provide evidence of work experience, while PhD students might demonstrate their research abilities with a writing sample.

Program Length

Requirements vary by program, but full-time students typically complete a doctorate in 3 to 5 years. Programs that require a capstone project may take longer. For those considering quick degrees, a number of universities now offer accelerated doctoral programs online .

PhD programs often take 4 to 7 years to finish. The speed at which students research and write their dissertations can significantly impact the timeline.

The curriculum for doctorate programs typically centers on practical skills and contemporary issues in the field. Topics may include communication, ethics, and leadership.

PhD programs offer classes on research methods, theories, and disciplinary trends. Students also learn how to write journal articles and present at conferences.

Assessment and Completion Requirements

Doctorate and PhD students both complete 2 or more years of coursework. They also demonstrate their knowledge during comprehensive exams.

Doctorate students may produce a capstone project that applies their knowledge to real problems. By contrast, PhD students write dissertations based on original research.

If You Have a PhD, Are You a Doctor?

Is a PhD a doctor ? While graduates who earn a PhD are referred to as doctors, a PhD is different from a Doctor of Medicine (MD).

Doctors with MDs are medical doctors who can legally prescribe medications, perform surgery, and treat patients. They typically apply existing medical knowledge instead of conducting research. Doctors with PhDs don’t have any of these abilities. Instead, they have specialized knowledge and perform academic research in a particular field.

PhD or Doctorate Degree – Which Is Right for You?

Understanding the difference between a doctorate and a PhD can help you select the right degree for you.

Professional doctorate degrees help students become leading practitioners and problem solvers. By contrast, PhD degrees enable students to hone their research skills and learn advanced concepts. Both degrees allow you to enrich your understanding of your chosen discipline or profession. They also help you boost your credentials and develop new skills.

After you decide between a doctorate degree vs. PhD, you can explore program options from accredited schools to find the best fit.

A Doctor of Philosophy or Doctorate

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More than 54,000 students earned doctoral degrees in 2016, the latest year for which figures are available, a 30 percent increase since 2000, according to the  National Science Foundation . A Ph.D., also called a doctorate, is a "Doctor of Philosophy" degree, which is a misleading moniker because most Ph.D. holders are not philosophers. The term for this increasingly popular degree derives from the original meaning of the word "philosophy," which comes from the ancient Greek word  philosophia , meaning "love of wisdom."

What Is a Ph.D.?

In that sense, the term "Ph.D." is accurate, because the degree has historically been a license to teach, but it also signifies that the holder is an "authority, in full command of (a given) subject right up to the boundaries of current knowledge, and able to extend them," says  FindAPhD , an online Ph.D. database. Earning a Ph.D. requires a hefty financial and time commitment— $35,000 to $60,000  and two to eight years—as well as research, creating a thesis or dissertation, and possibly some teaching duties.

Deciding to pursue a Ph.D. can represent a major life choice. Doctoral candidates require additional schooling after completing a master's program to earn their Ph.D.: They must complete additional coursework, pass comprehensive exams , and complete an independent dissertation in their field. Once completed, though, a doctoral degree—often called a "terminal degree"—can open doors for the Ph.D.holder, especially in academia but also in business.

Core Courses and Electives

To obtain a Ph.D., you need to take a group of core courses as well as electives, totaling about 60 to 62 "hours," which are roughly the equivalent of units at the bachelor's degree level. For example, Washington State University offers a  Ph.D. in crop science . Core courses, which make up about 18 hours, include such subjects as introduction to population genetics, plant transmission genetics, and plant breeding.

Additionally, the student must make up the remaining required hours through electives. The  Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health  offers a doctoral degree in Biological Sciences in Public Health. After core courses such as laboratory rotations, biological sciences seminars, and core principles of biostatistics and epidemiology, the Ph.D. candidate is required to take electives in related fields such as advanced respiratory physiology, advanced respiratory physiology, and ecological and epidemiological control of parasitic diseases. Degree-granting institutions across the board want to ensure that those who earn Ph.D.s have broad knowledge in their chosen field.

Thesis or Dissertation and Research

A Ph.D. also requires students to complete a large scholarly project known as a  dissertation , a research report—usually 60-plus pages—which signifies that they are able to make significant independent contributions to their chosen field of study. Students take on the project, also known as a  doctoral thesis , after completing the core and elective coursework and passing a  comprehensive examination . Through the dissertation, the student is expected to make a new and creative contribution to a field of study and to demonstrate her expertise.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, for example, a strong medical dissertation relies heavily on the creation of a specific hypothesis that can be either disproved or supported by data collected through independent student research. Further, it must also contain several key elements starting with an introduction to the problem statement, conceptual framework, and research question as well as references to literature already published on the topic. Students must show that the  dissertation  is relevant, provides new insight into the chosen field, and is a topic that they can research independently.

Financial Aid and Teaching

There are several ways to pay for a doctoral degree: scholarships, grants, fellowships, and government loans, as well as teaching.  GoGrad , a graduate school information website, provides such examples as the:

• Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program, which provides full tuition and an annual stipend of $25,000 to $38,000.
• National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship, a three-year graduate fellowship that is designed to support doctoral students across 15 engineering disciplines
• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, a three-year program that provides an annual stipend of $34,000 and a $12,000 cost-of-education allowance for tuition and fees

As it does for bachelor's and master's degrees, the federal government also offers several  loan programs  to help students finance their Ph.D. studies. You generally apply for these loans by filling out the free application for federal student aid ( FAFSA ). Students planning to go into teaching after obtaining their doctoral degrees often also supplement their income by teaching undergraduate classes at the schools where they are studying. The University of California, Riverside, for example, offers a "teaching award"—essentially a stipend applied toward tuition costs—for Ph.D. candidates in English who teach undergraduate, beginning-level, English courses

Jobs and Opportunities for Ph.D. Holders

Education accounts for a large percentage doctoral awards, with elementary education, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership and administration, special education, and counselor education/ school counseling topping the list. Most universities in the United States require a Ph.D. for candidates who seek teaching positions, regardless of the department.

Many Ph.D. candidates seek the degree, however, to boost their current salaries. For example, a health, sports, and fitness educator at a community college would realize a bump in annual pay for obtaining a Ph.D. The same holds for educational administrators. Most such positions require only a master's degree, but obtaining a Ph.D. generally leads to an annual stipend that school districts add to the annual salary. That same health and fitness instructor at a community college could also move on from a teaching position and become a dean at a community college—a position that requires a Ph.D.—boosting his pay to  $120,000 to $160,000  a year or more.

So, the opportunities for a doctoral degree holder are wide and varied, but the cost and commitment required are significant. Most experts say you should know your future career plans before you make the commitment. If you know what you want to get out of the degree, then the years of required study and sleepless nights may well be worth the investment.

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Popular Posts

Applied Doctorate vs. Ph.D.: What are the Differences?

Making a choice between two similar but different things can be a challenge.

Oh, sure, some things don’t fall under the “do-or-die” category of decision making. With some things, there simply is no wrong choice.

Take a sports car versus an SUV, for example. Either is a great choice, depending on your budget, your lifestyle and your personal preferences.

What about an angus beef burger versus a textured soy protein patty? When it comes to radically opposing food choices, there’s usually a clear-cut winner.

Yet what about the more important things in life … like your career, your future and your doctoral education?

You already know the drill when it comes to deciding if a Ph.D. or doctorate is right for you:

• Investigate each type of degree program.
• Make a list of personal and professional pros and cons for each type of degree.
• Seek the wise counsel of colleagues, academic advisors and professional mentors.
• Make a confident decision about which degree is right for.

But first, let’s define the Ph.D. and the professional doctorate and then look at how they’re different from one another.

What is a Ph.D.?

A Ph.D., or Doctor of Philosophy, is a high-level degree earned after a period of three or more years of graduate-level study, culminating in the creation, submission, presentation and defense of a research dissertation.

The Ph.D. can be awarded in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, engineering and humanities. The term “philosophy,” according to Wikipedia, “does not refer solely to the field or academic disciple of philosophy, but is used in a broader sense in accordance with its original Greek meaning, which is ‘love of wisdom.’”

For some professions, such as university professor or researcher, the Ph.D. is pretty much de rigueur. Most Ph.D.s are earned as a means of contributing original research findings to an academic community, field of study or professional discipline.

Earning a doctorate is challenging and rewarding, but do you know what to really expect? Download this free guide for tips and insights to help you prepare for success.  

What is an applied professional doctorate.

This doctorate is an advanced, high-level degree, too, earned after a period of three or more years of graduate-level study across a wide variety of disciplines. Like the Ph.D. it, too, culminates in the creation, submission, presentation and defense of a research dissertation or similar type of comprehensive final project.

The professional doctorate is also a research-based degree, only it emphasizes looking at existing bodies of knowledge and raising questions for the purposes of solving a problem and applying theories to a real-world setting.

Applied doctorate degrees first became well established in the United Kingdom and Australia and were initially offered in the United States by for-profit colleges and universities. Employer demand for higher skill levels and actionable problem-solving, however, opened up new programs at accredited non-profit institutions.

Different than a theoretical, Ph.D. degree, the professional doctorate is often the best terminal degree for the working professional who’s driven to lead and innovate.

Applied doctoral degree programs offer the opportunity to earn a practical degree that enables both subject mastery and field application.

What is the difference between the Ph.D. and doctorate?

It’s often assumed that a Ph.D. is a teaching-only degree while a professional doctorate is for the corporate player. The truth is, either degree can be valued in an academic or professional setting, depending on the type of institution or organization. Furthermore, either degree could be right for you.

Dr. Christopher Washington, Franklin University’s provost and chief academic officer explains the fundamental difference between the Ph.D. and the applied professional doctorate degree this way:

“With a Ph.D., you generate new theory. With the professional doctorate, you start from a place of practice and what’s going on in the world. You look at existing bodies of knowledge to see what theories have been created. Then you raise questions to determine how to design experiences that test theory to practice. In cultivating these types of practitioner-oriented scholars, there’s potential for a stronger and better relationship between the scholar and the community he or she serves. Such a connection helps us convene people to tackle the hard questions.”

Here we offer a side-by-side comparison of the Ph.D. and the professional doctorate to further demonstrate the differences (and similarities):

As you can see, the differences between the Ph.D. and the applied doctorate are few – and many – most of which are directly related to how earning the degree will impact your career.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself before deciding which degree is right for you :

• Do you want to conduct research or analyze and apply it?
• Do you want to work in an academic or professional setting?
• Do you want to identify problems or lead solutions to them?

Explains Dr. Washington, “If you want to generate new theory and conduct pure science within the pursuit of an academic life, then the Ph.D. is probably more in line with what you’ll need. If, however, you want to advance knowledge within a complex, global practice context while challenging yourself professionally, consider the applied doctorate degree.”

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• What’s the difference between a PhD and a doctorate?

25 Aug 2022

• How you'll learn

In this post, we’ll explore the definitions, differences and similarities of PhDs and doctorates, as well as what a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) entails.  

After completing a master’s degree and spending time building a career, many professionals consider continuing their education and pursuing a higher level of academic achievement.

Two of the most common options are a PhD or a doctorate, but what is the difference between the two?

Defining a PhD and a doctorate 

A PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, is a specific type of doctorate degree that focuses on research in a particular field. It is highly theoretical and involves extensive research to generate new knowledge.

On the other hand, a doctorate degree is an umbrella term for any doctoral-level degree. It can be further categorised into two types: academic and professional.

Academic doctorates, such as a PhD, are focused on research, while professional doctorates, like the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) , focus on practical application in professional settings.  

Want to know more about the benefits of a DBA? Explore our guide:

Differences between a PhD and a doctorate 

While both a PhD and a doctorate are doctoral-level degrees, there are some key differences between the two. One of the main differences is that a PhD is typically an academic degree, while a doctorate can be either academic or professional. Additionally, a PhD is highly theoretical and research-focused, while a professional doctorate is practical and geared toward applying research to specific professional settings.  

Similarities between a PhD and a doctorate 

Despite their differences, there are also some similarities between a PhD and a doctorate. Both degrees require significant research, critical thinking, and independent study. They are both highly respected and recognised as top-level degrees in their respective fields, and both confer the title of “Doctor” upon completion.  

Weighing up your options? Read our guide to the benefits and drawbacks:

Examples of professional doctorates 

Examples of professional doctorates include the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA), Doctorate of Education (EdD), Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD), among others. These degrees are typically designed for individuals who want to apply research to specific professional settings.  

What is a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA)? 

A DBA is a professional doctorate degree that is focused on applying research to real-world business problems. It is typically designed for individuals who are in senior-level or executive positions in private or public sector organisations. A DBA is often seen as a practical alternative to a PhD in business, as it allows professionals to apply research directly to their work .  

Benefits of pursuing a Global DBA 

Portsmouth Online offers a Global DBA that is online and part-time, making it accessible from anywhere in the world. This course  is specifically designed for senior-level professionals who want to become more qualified in the field of business.

The structured modules will help you develop your ability to challenge current thinking and provide authoritative solutions to practical and research problems. Additionally, the applied research in the DBA thesis will allow you to conduct research on a topic that is directly relevant to your organisation.  

Choosing between a PhD and a doctorate 

Choosing between a PhD and a doctorate depends on your goals and aspirations. If you are interested in academic research and generating new knowledge, a PhD may be the right path for you.

However, if you want to apply research to specific professional settings, a professional doctorate like a DBA may be a better fit. Ultimately, it is important to choose the degree that aligns with your career goals and interests.  

Get more guidance on whether a PhD or a doctorate is right for you:

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Meaning of PhD in English

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• associate's degree
• baccalaureate
• bachelor's degree
• first degree
• summa cum laude

Ph.D. | American Dictionary

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on top of the world

extremely happy

Keeping up appearances (Talking about how things seem)

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What is a PhD?

PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy and is considered the highest postgraduate achievement you can earn. To complete a doctorate you must produce significant and original research. You’ll develop critical knowledge and understanding of a particular research area. 

A PhD is a doctoral degree with an academic focus. Under appropriate academic supervision, you’ll develop a significant, original piece of research, usually equivalent to 70,000 to 100,000 words.

Professional doctorate

While a PhD focuses on academic research, a professional doctorate makes a significant and original contribution to furthering professional practice. A professional doctorate consists of coursework and a thesis of between 70,000 and 100,000 words.

A new way to complete your PhD, that is unique to Swinburne. You will complete your PhD as part of a team of research students, from across a range of disciplines, to work collaboratively on a broad challenge identified by a partner. Each team member will focus on a different aspect of the problem. Your team might look at a new or developing innovation, with individual projects focused on areas such as:

• new technology
• challenges in community acceptance
• social impact
• new legal or regulatory frameworks
• ethical issues.

You’ll undertake research at the university as well as spending time immersed in the work environment of your industry partner. Through this, you'll simultaneously grow your knowledge of communication, leadership and business as well as develop your research skills. You’ll see first-hand the significance and impact your work can have.

Browse our PhD and professional doctorate degree courses

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[ pee -eych- dee ]

abbreviation for

• the highest degree, a doctorate, awarded by a graduate school in a field of academic study, usually to a person who has completed at least three years of graduate study and a dissertation approved by a committee of professors.
• a person who has been awarded this degree.

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Word history and origins.

Origin of Ph.D. 1

Example Sentences

He had a Ph. D in history and was a college professor before entering politics.

Moses has a Ph. D from Harvard, has published books and lectured widely, and is rare in our nation today.

This kind of reading naturally did not bring me any nearer my Ph. D.

And master's degree and you have completed a good deal of work on a Ph. D.?

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2024-2025 Catalog

Doctoral degrees.

The University of Idaho awards the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in recognition of high achievement in scholarly and research activity. The degree of Doctor of Education is granted for high scholarly attainment and in recognition of the completion of academic preparation for professional practice. See the "Ph.D. and Ed.D. Procedures" tab for more details. The Doctor of Athletic Training is offered through the College of Education and the Department of Movement Sciences (see the "DAT Procedures" tab for more details).

The major professor and program offering a particular doctoral program indicate the general philosophy of the degree program, the objectives of courses and seminars, the research specialties available, and requirements unique to the department. Admission to the doctoral program is granted only to those who have a recognized potential for completing the degree.

Requirements for Doctoral Degrees

Credit requirements.

For the Ph.D. and Ed.D., a minimum of 78 credits beyond the bachelor's degree is required.; At least 52 credits must be at the 500 level or above and at least 33 of the 78 credits must be in courses other than 600 (Doctoral Research and Dissertation). A maximum of 45 research credits in 600 (Doctoral Research and Dissertation) including 6 credits of 599 (Non-thesis Research) or 500 (Master's Research and Thesis) may be in the 45 research credits used toward the degree. For the D.A.T., a minimum of 66 credits is required and follows a prescribed set of courses set by the program.

Courses numbered below 300 may not be used to fulfill the requirements for a doctoral degree; courses numbered 300-399 may be used only in supporting areas and are not to be used to make up deficiencies. Individual programs may require additional course work. Applicants having a doctoral degree may obtain a second doctoral degree subject to the approval of the Graduate Council. The Graduate Council will establish the requirements for the second degree.

Credit Limitations for Transfer, Correspondence Study, and Non-degree

For the Ph.D. and Ed.D. degrees, a student must complete at least 39 of the 78 required credits at the University of Idaho (U of I) while matriculated in the College of Graduate Studies. Credits can be transferred to U of I with the consent of the student's major professor, the committee (if required by the program), the program's administrator, and the dean of the College of Graduate Studies. Credits can be transferred only if the institution from which the credits are being transferred has a graduate program in the course's discipline. All credits used toward graduate degrees must be from regionally accredited American institutions or from non-US institutions recognized by the appropriate authorities in their respective countries. Transfer credits are subject to all other College of Graduate Studies rules and regulations. Correspondence study courses may be applied to the degree only with the prior written approval of the College of Graduate Studies. Courses used toward an undergraduate degree, professional development courses, and courses on a professional development transcript are not available to be used toward a doctoral degree.

Time Limits

Of the credits submitted to satisfy the requirements for a Ph.D. or Ed.D. degree, a maximum of 30 may be more than eight years old when the degree is conferred, provided the student's committee and program administrator determine that the student has kept current in the subjects concerned. Graduation must occur no later than five years after the date on which the candidate passed their preliminary or general examination. These time limitations can be extended only on recommendation of the committee and approval by the Graduate Council.

Awarding Doctoral Degrees to Members of the Faculty

Regulations are outlined in Section 4920 of the Faculty-Staff Handbook.

Particular Requirements for the Ed.D. Degree

A period of professional practice is required for the Doctor of Education degree; the period involved is determined by the student's supervisory committee. While the Ed.D. is a College of Education degree, you should consult with the departments in the College of Education to learn of specific emphasis requirements.

Procedures for Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education Degrees

Appointment of major professor and committee.

Refer to " Appointment of Major Professor and Committee for All Degree Seeking Graduate Students " in the preceding General Graduate Regulations section. In addition, a doctoral supervisory committee consists of at least four people: the major professor as chair and at least one additional UI faculty member from the program, the balance of the committee may be made up of faculty members from a minor or supporting area, and faculty members from a discipline outside the major. If the committee has a co-chair, the minimum number of committee members is five.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination is a program option and serves to assess the background of the student in both the major and supporting fields and to provide partially the basis for preparation of the student's study program. A particular program may or may not require a master's degree as a prerequisite for the qualifying evaluation. As soon as the program's qualifications are met, a supervisory committee is appointed.

Preparation of Study Plan

Refer to " Preparation and Submission of Study Plan " in the preceding General Graduate Regulations section.

Preliminary Examination for Ph.D. Degree

The preliminary examination should be scheduled only after the student has completed the majority of the courses on their study plan. The student is required to be registered during the semester the preliminary examination is taken. The student's committee certifies to the College of Graduate Studies the results of the preliminary examination and if passed, the student is advanced to candidacy. Graduation must occur no later than five years after the date on which the candidate passed their examination. If the preliminary examination is failed, it may be repeated only once; the repeat examination must be taken within a period of not less than three months or more than one year following the first attempt. If a student fails the preliminary examination a second time, or the program does not allow the student to repeat the examination after the first failure or the student does not retake the examination within one year, the student is automatically moved to unclassified enrollment status and is no longer in the degree program.

General Examination for Ed.D . Degree

When the student approaches the end of their course work, has completed the professional experience requirement, and has outlined the dissertation subject in detail, the supervisory committee approves the holding of the general examination. The student is required to be registered during the semester the general examination is taken. The examination is both written and oral and is intended to assess progress toward degree objectives. The student's committee certifies to the College of Graduate Studies the results of the general examination and if passed, the student is advanced to candidacy. Graduation must occur no later than five years after the date on which the candidate passed their examination. If the general examination is failed, it may be repeated only once; the repeat examination must be taken within a period of not less than three months or more than one year following the first attempt. If a student fails the general examination a second time, or the program does not allow the student to repeat the examination after the first failure or the student does not retake the examination within one year, the student is automatically moved to unclassified status and is no longer in the degree program.

See the General Graduate Regulations section regarding application for advanced degree, registration requirements, final defense and dissertation requirements.

Procedures for Doctor of Athletic Training

The culminating clinical project.

Students enrolled in the Doctor of Athletic Training (D.A.T.) will engage in research projects during the curricular phase of the program. These project(s) will lead to at least two publication ready manuscripts, and all students must meet professional authorship requirements (regardless of order). See the  Department of Movement Sciences and Doctor of Athletic Training webpages for more information.

The Team (Committee)

All D.A.T. project team committees will have at least four committee members: two members of the athletic training faculty (all with graduate faculty status), the student's attending clinician (who is the student's on-site mentor during the student's residency), and an expert in the student's chosen area of clinical research. The athletic training faculty members will always chair the CCP, provide research guidance, and serve as the experts in the development of advanced practice in Athletic Training. A situation may arise in which one or both of the members of the committee that are outside of the AT program faculty may have a degree less than that of which the student is seeking; however, the intent of the third and fourth D.A.T. committee membership is to provide outside validation of the student's progress toward advanced practice and clinical utility of action research studies.

Culminating Clinical Project Hours

These dissertation hours may be used in instances when the CCP has not been successfully completed and the curricular phase of program has been completed.

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College of Education, Health and Human Sciences

Physical Address: 921 Campus Drive Moscow ID, 83844

General Contact: Phone: 208-885-6772 Email: [email protected]

Student Services: Phone: 208-885-6610

Fax: 208-885-1071

Mailing Address: University of Idaho Boise Center 322 E. Front Street Boise, ID 83702

Phone: 208-334-2999

Fax: 208-364-4035

Email: [email protected]

Web: Boise Center

Coeur d'Alene

Mailing Address: University of Idaho CDA Center 1031 N. Academic Way, Suite 242 Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

Phone: 208-292-2519

Fax: 208-667-5275

Email: [email protected]

Web: CDA Center

Doctoral Degree Overview

The University of Idaho College of Education, Health and Human Sciences offers three doctoral degree programs. Students who are pursuing a doctoral degree in education have various areas of specialization to choose from.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

The Doctor of Education prepares students as professional leaders, educators and practitioner-scholars who actualize the knowledge base in their respective field. Students will:

Create and model ethical evidence-based best practices

Lead organizational change 

Establish a caring and collaborative learning community

Support the principles of teaching and learning practices

Utilize the principles of effective leadership

Develop proficiency utilizing and applying technologies

Evaluate the individual, organizational, and societal contexts of learning

Design research that addresses professional policy issues

Integrate ethical sensitivity toward diversity and social justice in research, teaching and learning

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Doctor of Philosophy prepares students as researchers, faculty and/or discipline-based scholars who contribute to the knowledge base of their respective fields. Students will:

Engage in ethical, empirical, theoretical, and/or conceptual inquiry

Develop an active research agenda

Engage in grant-writing, proposal and manuscript preparation and presentations

Develop understanding of pedagogies and content 

Contribute to professional organizations, societies and/or academies

Engage in appropriate outreach/service 

Doctor of Athletic Training (D.A.T.)

The Doctor of Athletic Training provides advanced knowledge in the field and improves professional clinical skills as a practicing certified athletic trainer. Students will:

Understand the history and wider context (including barriers and future potential) of athletic training

Become well-versed in manual therapy paradigms

Utilize state-of-the-art rehabilitation strategies to improve clinical outcomes

Integrate evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence into their clinical practice

Study manual therapy approaches and outcomes in multi-site research 

Learn to treat patients from a holistic integrative approach

Participate in meaningful clinical research

Develop meaningful strategies and skills to help prepare the future generations of athletic trainers to effectively treat patients

The Doctoral Handbook will guide students through the steps necessary to be considered for admission to the doctoral program in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences (EHHS) and College of Graduate Studies. For more information about our programs, contact us by email at  [email protected] or call 208-885-6772.

For additional information

• View our Education doctoral pages
• View our Athletic Training doctoral pages

Questions on our Graduate Programs?

» Visit our Graduate Program FAQ page

Admission Details

Ed.D. or Ph.D.

• Next available: Fall 2025
• Application Deadline: Dec. 1
• Summer only
• Next available: Summer 2024
• Application Deadline: April 15
• Doctoral Handbook pdf
• EHHS Doctoral Core Course Rotation xlsx
• Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Approval pdf

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PhD Percentage by Country / Number of Doctorate Degrees per Country 2024

1. slovenia.

Slovenia is the highest-ranking country in the number of Ph.D. degrees earned by adults between the ages of 25 and 64. 5% of the entire population in Slovenia has a Ph.D. The distribution between Ph.D. adults in Slovenia finds more female doctorates than males. About 4.5% of adult females have a Ph.D., compared to about 3% of adult males in Slovenia.

2. Switzerland

Switzerland has the second-highest rate of Ph.Ds. globally, with nearly 3% of the adult population holding this advanced degree. In Switzerland, men are more likely to hold a Ph.D., representing 4% of the total doctorate population, compared to about 2.5% for female doctorates.

3. Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, 2% of the total population holds a Ph.D. There are several countries tied for 2% of the population with a Ph.D., and almost all of the highly educated countries are in Europe . In Luxembourg, 2.5% of Ph.D. holders are male, compared to 2% female.

4. United States

The United States is tied with European countries when it comes to being a highly educated population. About 2% of the U.S. population holds a Ph.D. Men are more likely than women to have a Ph.D. in the United States, with 2.5% of the Ph.D. candidates male and about 2% female.

Like other countries on our list, Sweden is tied with 2% of the total population holding a doctorate degree. In this country, males and females are just about equal when it comes to this advanced degree. Around 2.5% of males have a Ph.D., while 2.2% of females hold a Ph.D. in Sweden.

6. The United Kingdom

Rounding out our list of highly educated countries with the most Ph.Ds., the United Kingdom has about 2% of the population holding a Ph.D. In the United Kingdom, males and females are pretty close to equal in higher education. Males account for more Ph.D. degrees, with about 2.5%, while females are close behind with nearly 2.3% Ph.Ds.

Another European country on our list of the most Ph.Ds., Germany, has about 2% of its population with a Ph.D. This country sees a more significant discrepancy between males and females when it comes to higher education. About 1.75% of males account for Ph.Ds. awarded, while only about 1% of females have their Ph.D. in Germany.

8. Australia

Breaking up the stranglehold at the top of our list between Europe and the United States, Australia makes the list with the 8th most Ph.D. citizens per capita. In Australia, 2% of the population holds a doctorate degree. Males and females are almost identical regarding Ph.Ds., with males just slightly earning a Ph.D. more frequently. Males account for 1.1% of Ph.Ds. in the country, while females account for 1.0% of the Ph.Ds. awarded in Australia.

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What country has the highest percentage of PhDs?

Frequently asked questions.

• What are the characteristics and outcomes of doctoral graduates? - OECD
• These countries have the most doctoral graduates - World Economic Forum
• List of countries by number of doctorates awarded - Wiki

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Fat Joe Gets His Honorary Doctorate Degree from Lehman College

Hip-hop icon Fat Joe was bestowed with a prestigious honor during the Lehman College commencement ceremony, marking a momentous occasion for the acclaimed rapper and the cultural recognition of the genre itself. The ceremony witnessed a fusion of academic tradition and urban culture as Fat Joe, whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, was awarded an honorary doctorate.

Fat Joe’s journey from the streets of the Bronx to receiving such distinguished recognition is a testament to the power of perseverance, talent, and reinvention. Born and raised in the South Bronx, a hotbed of hip-hop culture, Fat Joe emerged as a prominent figure in the genre during the 1990s. With his distinctive flow, lyrical prowess, and authentic storytelling, he carved a niche in an industry that often overlooks voices from marginalized communities.

Throughout his career, Fat Joe has left an indelible mark on the music scene and has been a philanthropist and community leader. His commitment to giving back to his roots and uplifting the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs is commendable. From supporting local initiatives to advocating for social justice causes, Fat Joe has used his platform to effect positive societal change.

As Fat Joe stood on the stage, clad in academic regalia, it was a moment of triumph for him and an entire community that has often been overlooked and underestimated. It serves as a reminder that greatness knows no boundaries of race, class, or background and that talent, hard work, and dedication can transcend any obstacle.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by FAT JOE (@fatjoe)

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Congrats to Doctor Rongrong Xu, PhD

• By: Mackenzie Arnolds
• May 24, 2024

Professor Robert Weller;   Yang Shen , PhD; & 徐榕榕 Rongrong Xu, PhD at Friday’s hooding ceremony.

Congratulations Rongrong!

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Idaho’s deadline passes to purchase University of Phoenix

A year ago, the University of Idaho announced that it wanted to spend more than a half-billion dollars to purchase a mostly online university that was a shadow of its former self.

While the deal to purchase the University of Phoenix was made to sound like a slam dunk, including securing approval through secret discussions with the Idaho State Board of Education, the UI has largely failed to garner support for the deal from state lawmakers who were left out of the decision process.

As the proposed $685 million purchase faced legal challenges from state lawyers and failed to get support in the Idaho Legislature, the original deadline for either party to walk away from the deal expired on Friday.

However, the deal is not yet dead.

UI spokeswoman Jodi Walker confirmed that Apollo Management Group, which owns the University of Phoenix, and UI officials will continue negotiating following the Friday deadline.

“Both sides have agreed, through their general counsels, not to walk away through at least June while they continue conversations around an extension,” she said.

Apollo declined to comment Friday.

Emails obtained by Idaho Education News , a nonprofit news organization based in Boise, show that the University of Phoenix owners want to entertain other purchase offers.

In an April 21 email to other board members, state board Executive Director Matt Freeman described a closed-door discussion between UI President C. Scott Green, general counsel Kent Nelson, another state education board member and an aide to Idaho Gov. Brad Little.

In it, Freeman explains that both sides will agree to continue negotiating the purchase for up to a year as long as Idaho agrees to drop exclusivity. “If Apollo ended up selling Phoenix to another buyer, there would be a breakup fee paid to UI,” Freeman wrote.

“If the asset was never sold, there would be a breakup fee of a lesser amount paid to UI. The breakup fee would help offset due diligence costs incurred by UI.”

It appears that “breakup fee” would help cover the $11 million UI reportedly spent on trying to land the deal to purchase the online university, which is based in Phoenix. As of last year, it had about 85,000 students.

Of that $11 million, about $7.3 million went to international law firm Hogan Lovells, which has headquarters in London and Washington, D.C.

Green worked as global chief operating and financial officer for Hogan Lovells until the summer of 2019 when the Idaho State Board of Education hired him as Idaho’s 19th president.

Green’s hiring of his former firm to perform due diligence on the deal was criticized by at least one Idaho lawmaker .

“He hired the best law firm that he knew of that were the experts in the subject matter,” Walker said of Green’s hiring of Hogan Lovells.

Green attempted to convince lawmakers during the recent legislative sessions of the merits of UI’s proposal to purchase the University of Phoenix.

However, he battled concerns over whether the purchase would imperil the state’s credit rating and why Idaho should purchase a school with a bruised reputation that once had 470,000 students before it began to shed enrollment.

The announcement in 2023 from Idaho’s purchase effort came four years after the owners of University of Phoenix agreed to pay $191 million to settle claims made by the Federal Trade Commission that it used “deceptive advertisements falsely touting their relationships and job opportunities with companies such as AT&T, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Twitter, and The American Red Cross.”

“The monetary judgment is the highest in an FTC case involving a for-profit school,” according to the commission’s website.

A telling exchange of Green’s challenges occurred earlier this year when he told lawmakers that because of the nature of the deal, he had no “political mechanism” for the university to give lawmakers advance word of it.

House State Affairs Committee Chairman Brent Crane, R-Nampa, responded: ”I have a cell phone and I have a laptop.”

Despite lobbying from the owners of University of Phoenix, and Green’s cajoling, state lawmakers never warmed to the deal.

In fact, they passed a bill that didn’t directly mention the University of Phoenix deal, but nonetheless would have prevented its purchase if it had been in place.

House Bill 691 , which was signed into law by Little, now requires state-funded agencies and institutions to notify the Legislature and local media before most purchases of $25 million or more.

Despite the blowback from lawmakers, Green and the university will continue to search for paths to complete the acquisition, said UI spokeswoman Walker.

“We are going to continue to have conversations with the governor and the Legislature and continue to pursue what we consider a great opportunity for our state,” she said.

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‘Doctor Who’ Episode 5 Recap: Bursting the Bubble

The Doctor saves a rich wannabe vlogger from being eaten by a giant slug, but a final twist leaves him reeling.

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By Isobel Lewis

Isobel Lewis has been watching “Doctor Who” since 2005. As a teenager, she made GIFs of the show for her fan Tumblr.

Season 1, Episode 5: ‘Dot and Bubble’

We’ve passed the midway point in this season of “Doctor Who,” and the show’s ambition shows no sign of subsiding. After playing with themes of religion and politics, it’s artificial intelligence, already touched on in the earlier episode “Boom,” that’s the topic du jour in “Dot and Bubble.”

With its slick visuals and clear anti-technology viewpoint, Episode 5 has echoes of “Black Mirror,” Charlie Brooker’s dystopian TV anthology — as this season’s showrunner, Russell T Davies, who also wrote the episode, noted in a recent interview.

But whereas Brooker can use each episode of “Black Mirror” to focus on a different aspect of contemporary technology, Davies has just 43 minutes to explore its overarching morality in “Dot and Bubble.”

It makes for a slightly overstuffed episode — critiquing and parodying capitalism, YouTube and celebrity worship — that is saved, in part, by a genuinely unexpected twist in the final act.

As with the previous episode, “ 73 Yards ,” the Doctor doesn’t feature all that heavily in “Dot and Bubble” and the action feels less consequential to the season’s overall arc. Instead, the focus is on Lindy Pepper-Bean (Callie Cooke), a blonde-haired, blue-eyed wannabe vlogger with a penchant for pastels.

Lindy’s life revolves around a two-part technology: Dot, a tiny robotic pearl that hovers in front of her, and Bubble, a virtual sphere of colorful screens beamed around her head. Within the Bubble, the perpetually peppy Lindy is in constant conversation with her friends; she chats away with the cadence — and vocal fry — of a family-friendly YouTuber, and they coo back.

This is all takes place on the futuristic colony of Finetime, where “everything’s fine, all of the time.” Here, rich kids have been sent from a planet called Homeworld — which, it turns out, has been destroyed — to work just two hours a day and party the rest of the time. It’s “Love Island: The Planet,” quips Ruby (Millie Gibson), the Doctor’s companion.

Lindy is dependent on her Dot and Bubble, and not just for validation. The technology tells her when to go to the bathroom and where to walk; without it, she hobbles into lampposts. It also keeps her in a constant state of distraction — so that she doesn’t even notice sluglike monsters are eating the people around her alive.

The Doctor pops up in Lindy’s Bubble to warn her about the creatures, but Lindy doesn’t want to know, and blocks him. Ruby has better luck getting through, showering Lindy with compliments until she agrees to look beyond the Bubble, where she sees a co-worker’s wiggling legs disappearing inside one of the creatures as he’s consumed whole.

Yet when Lindy finally switches off her Bubble and comes face to face with the monsters, they ignore her, and the Doctor wants to know why. Lindy calls up her “mummy” back on Homeworld and Ruby instantly recognizes her — as will the show’s regular viewers: She is played by the actor Susan Twist, who has been making mysterious cameo appearances throughout the episodes. But the Doctor extinguishes any hope that her significance will be explained just yet. “We’ll save that for later,” he says.

Back in her Bubble, and terrified, Lindy gathers her dwindling circle of friends. A monster gobbles up one of the group while the others watch in horror, and Lindy begrudgingly gives the Doctor the floor. He explains that there is a river running beneath Finetime that they can use to escape, but Lindy’s Dot glitches when he tells her where the access point is. “You still have battery problems?” Ruby screams, in comic disbelief.

Lindy wobbles out into the world once more, and is rescued from walking right into a monsters’ trap by Ricky September (Tom Rhys Harries), a top influencer and heartthrob. She is naturally thrilled to be in Ricky’s orbit, but when she gushes, “I thought this was the worst day of my life, but maybe it’s the best,” Ricky points out that the creatures are still eating people alive. The exchange is played for laughs, but foreshadows darkness to come.

After charging their Dots, the pair escapes underground, where Lindy reconnects with the Doctor and Ruby. Soon, the Doctor realizes that the monsters are working their way through Finetime’s residents in alphabetical order, by last name — and Lindy Pepper-Bean is next on their list. The Dot has become sentient, the Doctor has worked out (though how is never quite explained), and after years of listening to Lindy and her friends vapidly yapping, it has turned on them. First, it created the monsters. Now, it just wants destruction.

As if on cue, the Dot attacks Lindy, and Ricky tries to defend her. Then comes a real rug pull. The Dot is about to make a final swoop at Lindy, when she yells that the Dot should kill Ricky instead, because “Ricky September” is a stage name: His real last name is Coombes — which comes before hers in the alphabet.

The Dot kills Ricky and Lindy escapes with a nervous smile on her face. But her selfish outburst was totally at odds with the Doctor’s ideology and that of the show: that people have an innate capacity for good.

She is greeted at the river by a friend called Hoochy Pie (Niamh Lynch); the Doctor and Ruby are there too, and can immediately sense something’s up when Lindy lies and tells them that Ricky went back to save other people. “He was so brave,” she insists.

Rather than letting Lindy and her friends escape via the river, the Doctor offers them a ride to a new, safe planet. Lindy rolls her eyes, and says she can’t travel with him, “Because you, sir, are not one of us.”

The words reverberate in the air. What does Lindy mean? Is the Doctor not like Lindy because he’s not rich, or because he’s an alien, or Black? When Hoochy calls the TARDIS an example of “voodoo,” she uses a term that has a history as a racial slur.

The Doctor has always put som much effort into saving people, yet Lindy and Hoochy make a mockery of that work. He lets out an incredulous, manic cackle, which shifts into an angry roar that sends spittle flying through the air.

This time, there is no wistful gaze as the Doctor returns to the TARDIS. He slams the door behind him, leaving Lindy and her friends to their fate.

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