In the traditional academic model, at least in the United States, you get an undergraduate degree, followed by a master’s degree, and then finish your academic journey by getting a PhD. However, that isn’t the only way. Do you need a master’s degree to get a PhD? The short answer Read more…
A question I’ve gotten a few times: “Can I get a double PhD?” The answer is yes, you can under most circumstances. But why? While there are some exceptional cases, generally I’d discourage people from pursuing a second PhD. Here are some of the reasons why. After I cover those, Read more…
The dissertation proposal defense is a nerve-wracking time for even the most hardened of doctoral students. Even a pirate (writing his dissertation on effective cutlass techniques), will quake a bit in his boots before delivering his dissertation proposal defense. However, it doesn’t need to be a stressful time. As a Read more…
The dissertation is one of the longest and most difficult projects you will ever undertake. In a perfect world, the dissertation committee that you are working with should be able to fulfill all of your doctoral needs. Whether you need help with motivation, career guidance, working out methodology questions, or Read more…
Your Problem Statement is one of the most important sections of your dissertation. Let that sink in for a moment. (Breathe. Say an om. Try to fend off the existential anxiety that is a natural part of the dissertation-writing process). Okay, ready to know more? The reason why it’s so Read more…
When you write your dissertation proposal, you’ll need to identify the gap in literature. This is a very important step that is sometimes confusing. We’ll do our best to clarify it in this article. What Is a Gap in Literature? The gap in literature is a place where something relevant Read more…
If you are wondering how to write your dissertation acknowledgments, that means you are basically finished. Congratulations! You have done the hard work and are just putting the finishing touches on your masterpiece and deciding who to thank. Everyone. Seriously though, deciding whom to acknowledge and how to do it Read more…
Just think, two months ago you were blissfully finishing up classes, starting on your dissertation path, or collecting data for your research. Then the COVID-19 crisis hit. How quickly things have changed. You may be reeling from the massive shifts and unsure about how they will affect your ability to Read more…
The path to the doctoral degree is not straight. It inevitably takes twists and turns that test our fortitude and our willingness to sacrifice. Sometimes delays in the process affect our ability to provide for loved ones or require us to postpone important family milestones. When you get to one Read more…
With the news of Jefferey Epstein and his systematic attempts to buy credibility by becoming associated with academic institutions and charities, we need to pause to look at the insatiable need for money at colleges and universities. I was an undergraduate student in the 70s and a graduate student in Read more…