First Professional vs. Doctoral?

Question

What is the difference between a First Professional college degree and a Doctoral college degree?

Answer 1

A First Professional Degree (or Professional Degree, same thing) is a degree that prepares the student for a particular profession, and is most often the highest level of study offered in that particular field.

Examples: MD (doctor), JD (lawyer), MEng (engineer), DVM (vet), MBA (business), MDiv (clergy). They are generally at the Masters level, and usually require about three years of study after the completion of the bachelors degree. These degrees generally do not require a thesis, although JDs often do require a specific research project.

A doctoral degree (PhD) is a degree that focuses on scholarly activity rather than a vocation. These degrees, also begun after the completion of the bachelors degree, generally take between 5 and 8 years to earn. They always require a dissertation (original research demonstrating expertise in a specific area of the field of specialization). They are the highest degrees available in the US system of education.