How is doing a PhD different from say, psychology or philosophy or biology?

Question

Do you go though the same procedures? Are they the same length? Do you go about researching in the same way?

(Same with Master's?)

Answer 1

Paul,

Wow -- you couldn't have chosen three more different fields. Let me give you some basics, and then try to fill in some of the differences. Please know, that every university is going to have slightly different criteria...

The Master's is pretty much the same in all fields. In most universities it requires a series of course work credit hours that usually takes the student about 2 years. Some universities may require a grand comprehensive examination in your discipline at the end; and may also require you to write a Master's Thesis (or professional paper).

The PhD usually requires about an additional one to two years more of course work after the Master's. Then you will be asked to sit for a series of examinations.

This is where it gets tricky. Every university has different criteria at this point. You may have to sit two or three "field examinations" in minor areas, and then one full comprehensive exam in your major area of concentration. Your major exam will be written, and then it will be followed up with an oral test before your doctoral committee (you choose the members who sit on this committee).

After this, you are ABD (All But Dissertation). You must write a dissertation proposal and have it accepted by members of your committee. And then you must write it (submitting your work to the members chapter by chapter.

Once the chapters have all been accepted, you will have an "Oral Defense" of the dissertation before your committee (which is open to the public). And after that -- YOU'RE DONE.

That's more or less the way it works. But in Psychology, you are likely to have to perform several hours of supervised work in counselling as well to be certified. That's about it.

Hope this answer helps. Cheers, mate.

Answer 2

Well, a phd is a doctor of philosophy, so you can get it in many subjects--it just means you are more theoretical.

There are other doctorate degrees can be professional (like md (doctor) or jd (lawyer), or be research that is more practical but it's still a doctorate, just not a phd. Meaning, there are doctorates that are research doctorates, but not a professional doctor or phd.

I think you can get away with getting a masters without doing any research.

Masters and doctorate have different procedures, but within each I believe the procedures are the same (meaning no matter what you get your phd or other doctorate in, you have to write and defend a thesis, AFAIK)

Answer 3

If you think of your undergraduate degree as demonstrating that you can discipline yourself enough to get difficult intellectual work done on a schedule, then the next step is the Graduate (Masters or PhD) degree. In EVERY PhD program, the object is for you to master how to discover your own area of interest and to demonstrate to your committee that you understand how to go about organizing your study of that area of interest in such a way that your investigation will add to the understanding of the area, and to do the investigation with the level of competency required. This is the process for the PhD acquisition and is constant for all fields of interest.

Answer 4

A double considerable could provide you something to talk approximately in the time of your med college interviews whilst making you look nicely-rounded, regardless of the undeniable fact that it won't make or destroy an application. Pursue it given which you relatively desire to do the 2d considerable, and are valuable approximately being waiting to maintain a extreme GPA. you will no longer get cut back any slack because of the fact you double-majored, and the guy who majored in basic terms in biology and have been given a 4.0 while you get carry of a three.5 will nevertheless have the top hand (regrettably). That being stated, you look stimulated sufficient to deal with it. Neither considerable is a undesirable decision. Majoring in philosophy provide you useful serious questioning skills and open your suggestions. Majoring in psychology enables you to delve into the human suggestions and could be powerful later on. Pursue what interests you. interior the top, med faculties do no longer care what you considerable in.

Answer 5

A PhD is actually a doctorate in philosophy, as opposed to other things like Juris Doctor (Doctor of Law), medical doctor (MD), etc. Everything else is a PhD.

As far as I know, various PhDs are the same - usually entailing research. MDs and JDs and such are by their very nature different, requiring medical school, for example.

Answer 6

you can get a phd in all of the above. my dad has a phD in history believe it or not. phD study is graduate work after you have completed your 4 year bachelor's degree and masters' level work (which is usually an additional 2 years) depending on the field.