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“What does Ph.D. stand for?” This is a question that can be answered several different ways. First of all, typically Ph.D. stands for doctor or doctorate in philosophy. I know that can be a little confusing because, in theory, I would think that it should be DPH but it’s Ph D. However, Ph.D. actually comes from the original Latin where Philosophiae Doctor was shortened to Ph.D. This signifies the highest achievement in an academic field. Others also call it the terminal or last degree that you can get within a specific topic area. It has become acceptable to use either Ph.D. or PhD.
A Ph.D. Is a Terminal Degree
That gets us to our next definition of Ph.D., and that is the pinnacle, the top, the terminal degree, the ultimate that you can do within a field of study. Instead of just defining it as a doctor of philosophy, we acknowledge that you, or the holder, has obtained the highest level of education possible in a particular field. To reach this threshold, one must contribute new knowledge to the field of interest. That means that the holder of the degree has been conferred the honor and the distinction of having contributed new knowledge and is now allowed to announce to the world their achievement. Upon completion of the degree, the recipient is free to use the title of Dr. or Ph.D. and becomes eligible for opportunities such as working as a professor at a university, as most universities require professors to hold the terminal degree, Ph.D.
While a Ph.D. is considered the ultimate degree, it is also not the only doctorate that exists. There is an Ed.D. (Doctorate of Education), DBA (Doctorate of Business Administration), Dp.H. (Doctorate of public health), as well as a number of others. In fact, there are over 50 doctoral degrees that have been identified in the United States. These are all the pinnacle degrees within their discipline.
Over 50% of doctoral candidates don’t finish their dissertations.
“Piled Higher and Deeper”
There is another definition of Ph.D. that is sometimes used and that is “Piled Higher and Deeper”. This may be considered a derogatory term to denote that academic writing can be very dense. The purpose however is to make sure that there are no misunderstandings about what has been written and that a given stream of research can be reproduced to confirm the results.
What Does Ph.D. Stand For? Final Thoughts
Ultimately, what is a Ph.D.? A Ph.D. is a degree indicating mastery of knowledge in a specific field where the holder has created new knowledge and has the skills and tools to continue the quest for knowledge.
