How do i get a doctorate degree

Are you looking to earn your doctorate degree, but aren’t sure where to begin? Or maybe you’re just curious about the kinds of degrees that are available to you. In this article, we’ll go over the different types of degrees, the difference between research degrees and professional degrees, and finally, give you a full comprehensive list of doctorate degrees available in the U.S.

We hope you discover some new fields that pique your interest, and maybe even get you started on your path to earning a degree.

How do i get a doctorate degree

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What Is A Doctorate Degree?

There are four major types of degrees that you can earn in university. In order, they are: associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctorate degree.

A doctorate degree is the highest level of education in most fields. For fields of research or teaching it is usually a PhD, while other applied doctorates will include degrees such as Doctor of Medicine (MD), or Doctor of Education (EdD).

In order to earn a doctorate degree, you will first need to earn your bachelor’s degree. Most people choose to earn their master’s degree before entering a doctorate program, but it is possible to go straight to a doctoral degree in some cases.

Doctorate degrees can be divided into two major categories: research degrees and professional degrees.

How do i get a doctorate degree

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Research Degrees

What Is A Research Degree?

A research degree focuses on exploring a topic in depth. A research degree gives students the opportunity to conduct their own unique research on a topic of their choice in order to produce their own research papers and innovative studies of knowledge.

A research degree prepares students with the skills and experience necessary for working and conducting research in academic, governmental, and business fields.

Below is a comprehensive list of all the research degrees available in the US.

List Of Research Degrees:

  • Doctor of Arts (DA)
  • Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
  • Doctor of Canon Law (JCD)
  • Doctor of Design (DDes)
  • Doctor of Engineering or Engineering Science (DEng, DESc, DES)
  • Doctor of Education (EdD)
  • Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA.)
  • Doctor of Hebrew Letters (DHL)
  • Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD, SJD)
  • Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
  • Doctor of Music Education (DME)
  • Doctor of Modern Languages (DML)
  • Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  • Doctor of Public Health (DPH)
  • Doctor of Sacred Theology (STD)
  • Doctor of Science (DSc, ScD)
  • Doctor of Theology (ThD)
How do i get a doctorate degree

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Professional Degrees

What Is A Professional Degree?

A professional degree prepares students for a specific profession. Through earning a professional degree, students study the necessary information for their field, meet specific academic and licensure requirements for their desired profession, and prepare for state exams.

Below is a comprehensive list of all the professional degrees that can be earned in the US.

List Of Professional Degrees

  • Doctor of Acupuncture (D.Ac., D.Acu.)
  • Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (D.A.O.M.)
  • Doctor of Anesthesia Practice (Dr.AP)
  • Doctor of Applied Science (D.A.S.)
  • Doctor of Architecture (D.Arch.)
  • Doctor of Athletic Training (D.A.T.)
  • Doctor of Audiology (Au.D)
  • Doctor of Behavioral Health (D.B.H.)
  • Doctor of Chemistry (D.Chem.)
  • Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.)
  • Doctor of Church Music (D.C.M.)
  • Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (D.C.N.)
  • Doctor of Clinical Science in Speech-Language Pathology (CScD)
  • Doctor of Comparative Law (D.C.L.)
  • Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.)
  • Doctor of Computer Science (D.C.S.)
  • Doctor of Criminal Justice (D.C.J.)
  • Doctor of Criminology (D.Crim.)
  • Doctor of Divinity (Divinitatis Doctor) (D.D.)
  • Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.)
  • Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.)
  • Doctor of Environmental Science and Engineering (D.Env.)
  • Doctor of Forestry (D.F.)
  • Doctor of Geological Science (D.G.S.)
  • Doctor of Health Administration (D.H.A.)
  • Doctor of Health and Safety (D.H.S.)
  • Doctor of Health Education (D.H.Ed)
  • Doctor of Hebrew Literature/Letters (D.H.L.)
  • Doctor of Health Science (D.H.Sc., D.H.S.)
  • Doctor of Hebrew Studies (D.H.S.)
  • Doctor of Humane Letters (D.Hum.Litt.)
  • Doctor of Industrial Technology (D.I.T.)
  • Doctor of Information Technology (D.I.T.)
  • Juris Doctor (J.D.)
  • Doctor of Law and Policy (L.P.D., D.L.P.)
  • Doctor of Liberal Studies (D.L.S.)
  • Doctor of Library Science (D.L.S.)
  • Doctor of Management (D.M.)
  • Doctor of Medical Humanities (D.M.H.)
  • Doctor of Medical Physics (D.M.P)
  • Doctor of Medical Science (D.M.Sc.)
  • Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
  • Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
  • Doctor of Missiology (D.Miss)
  • Doctor of Music (D.M., D.Mus.)
  • Doctor of Music Therapy (D.M.T.)
  • Doctor of Naprapathic Medicine (D.N.)
  • Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (N.D., N.M.D.)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
  • Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D., D.O.T.)
  • Doctor of Optometry (O.D.)
  • Doctor of Organizational Leadership
  • Doctor of Oriental Medicine (D.O.M., O.M.D.)
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
  • Doctor of Pastoral Counseling (D.PC)
  • Doctor of Pastoral Music (D.P.M.)
  • Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
  • Doctor of Physical Education (D.P.E.)
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)
  • Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.)
  • Doctor of Practical Theology (D.P.T., D.Th.P.)
  • Doctor of Professional Studies (D.P.S.)
  • Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D)
  • Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A.)
  • Doctor of Recreation (D.Rec., D.R.)
  • Doctor of Rehabilitation (Rh.D.)
  • Doctor of Sacred Music (D.S.M.)
  • Doctor of Science in Dentistry (D.Sc.D.)
  • Doctor of Science and Hygiene (D.Sc.H.)
  • Doctor of Science in Veterinary Medicine (D.Sc.V.M.)
  • Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.)
  • Doctor of Social Science (D.S.Sc.)
  • Doctor of Social Work (D.S.W.)
  • Doctor of Transformational Leadership (D.T.L.)
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)

Earn A Degree Online

If you are interested in earning your doctorate degree in any desired subject, consider earning your bachelor’s or master’s degree online, so that you are one step closer to your goals.

Earning a degree online is a great way to study while working, raising a family, or just going at your own pace.

University of the People is a tuition-free university that allows students to earn their degree 100% online. We pride ourselves on offering affordable degree programs to our students, so that everyone has equal access to quality education.

We offer degrees in business administration, health science, computer science, and education, so if you’re looking to earn a doctorate degree, University of the People is the best place to start.

Wrapping Up

There are many fascinating and practical doctorate degrees to choose from. Whether you’re interested in research in education and language, or becoming a nurse or veterinarian, there is a degree for every field and interest.

For those who are determined to earn a doctorate degree, a great way to start is to earn your bachelor’s or master’s degree online, so you can be one step closer to your goals. We hope you find something to pique your interest in this comprehensive list of doctorate degrees.

How long does it take to get a doctorate degree?

On average, a Ph. D. may take up to eight years to complete. A doctorate degree typically takes four to six years to complete—however, this timing depends on the program design, the subject area you're studying, and the institution offering the program.

Can you go straight to doctorate?

Yes, you can get a PhD without first obtaining a master's degree. A number of universities offer direct entry to PhD programs from undergraduate or bachelor degree studies. In some cases, specific schools or programs may prefer that applicants hold a master's degree.

Is a PhD the same as a doctorate?

Is a PhD Higher Than a Professional Doctorate? No, a PhD is not a higher degree than a professional doctorate. If you're wondering what's better than a PhD, both PhDs and professional doctorates are the highest level of college education that can be earned. Both degrees are doctoral degrees.

Do I need a Masters to get a doctorate?

In the United States, you can generally go directly to a PhD with only a bachelor's degree, as a master's program is included as part of the doctoral program. Elsewhere, you generally need to graduate from a research-intensive master's degree before continuing to the PhD.