what-is-the-difference-between-a-phd-and-a-professional-doctoral-degree (2024)

A PhD and a professional doctorate help you gain different types of expertise.

what-is-the-difference-between-a-phd-and-a-professional-doctoral-degree (1)

If you’re thinking about pursuing a doctoral degree, including an online doctoral degree , you might be considering a PhD vs. doctorate. Perhaps you’re wondering, “What is a PhD, exactly?” or “Is a doctorate a PhD?” You’re not alone in asking these questions. In many fields of study, you can choose between a PhD degree and a professional doctorate. For instance, you could earn a Doctor of Education (EdD) or a PhD in Education.

What does PhD stand for? A PhD is a Doctor of Philosophy. In answer to the question, “Is a PhD a doctor,” the answer is yes. Both a PhD and a professional doctorate like an EdD earn you the title of “doctor.” But there are differences between the types of doctoral degrees. Learn more about a PhD vs. a professional doctorate below.

Is a Professional Doctorate the Same as a PhD?

Professional doctorate and PhD degrees are considered terminal degrees, meaning when you earn either degree, you will have achieved the highest formal degree in the field. As such, they can significantly enhance your résumé and your career. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, doctoral degree holders earn about 20% more on average per week than those who have a master’s degree.1

When choosing a doctorate vs. PhD, consider the focus of the degree. A PhD is an academic degree focused on original research, data analysis, and the evaluation of theory. A professional doctorate focuses on applying research to practical problems, formulating solutions to complex issues, and designing effective professional practices within your field.

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.

Professional doctoral degree examples include the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH). Or you could earn a PhD in Management, PhD in Education, PhD in Nursing, or PhD in Public Health. All of these degrees are doctoral degrees, even though some are professional doctorates and some are PhDs.

Differences Between a Professional Doctorate and a PhD

When deciding between a PhD vs. a doctorate, it’s important to understand that while both are doctoral degrees, the educational goals and typical career paths for each type of degree differ.

When it comes time to choose, it’s good to know that both PhD degrees and professional doctorates have their strengths. Your decision should be based on what you want to study and how you want to use your degree. Explore the key differences between a professional doctorate and a PhD in the chart below.

Key Areas

PhD

Professional Doctorate

Goals

Advance the field through theoretical research

Construct new knowledge or theories

Advance the field through applying an existing body of knowledge, research, and theory

Enrich your knowledge base and research skills

Outcomes

Conduct theoretical research

or

Seek a tenured academic position in higher education

Practice in the field and advance to leadership

or

Teach in higher education institutions

Student PopulationThose seeking theoretical research experienceThose seeking to solve practical problems in their field
Admission RequirementsMaster's degreeMaster's degree
AssessmentDissertationField-related doctoral study

Dissertation and Doctoral Study Requirements

While all colleges and universities establish their own policies on how you earn a degree, the methods by which you earn a PhD or a professional doctorate almost always differ. Though it can vary by degree program and university, PhD candidates usually complete a dissertation while many doctoral candidates complete a doctoral study.

Doctoral Study

A doctoral study requires you to identify a real-world problem within your field and research it thoroughly with the intent of uncovering new understandings that can eventually lead to new solutions. Completing the study takes multiple steps, which may include:

  • Creating a proposal that describes the problem you want to solve, the design of your study, and the methodology you’ll use.
  • Orally defending your proposal to the committee.
  • Collecting data and writing findings.
  • Orally defending your findings to the committee.

Dissertation

A PhD dissertation requires you to conduct research into an approved area of study within your discipline. While this can be in an area that has not yet been explored, it often complements existing knowledge by adding new or missing research. Completing the dissertation takes multiple steps, including:

  • Drafting a dissertation prospectus and orally defending your proposal to a committee.
  • Completing the research.
  • Writing the research dissertation, which includes your methods, findings, literature review, and conclusions.
  • Orally defending your completed dissertation to a committee.

What Do You Learn When Studying for a PhD vs. Doctorate?

A PhD is designed for college graduates who are interested in doing original and applied research that tests theory and adds to the existing knowledge in their particular field or discipline. A PhD program can help you learn how to:

  • Analyze theories and concepts within your field.
  • Evaluate the relevance of seminal, current, and emerging theories within your field.
  • Assess identified gaps in the current research literature.
  • Advance the body of knowledge in your field through original research.
  • Communicate effectively to an academic audience and general stakeholders.

A professional doctorate is designed for working professionals who have practical experience in their field and want to increase their knowledge, advance their careers, and translate their work experience into a higher position of credibility, leadership, and influence. A professional doctorate program can help you learn how to:

  • Evaluate the relevance of current and emerging theories and practices within your field.
  • Formulate effective solutions to complex, real-world problems common to your field.
  • Apply current research to practical problems in your field.
  • Design rigorous research that expands the professional body of knowledge in your field.

Fellowships

Not all universities offer fellowship programs; however, many do. And while fellowships are often offered to PhD students conducting research, there are also programs designed for professional doctoral degree candidates.

How You Can Earn Your PhD or Professional Doctoral Degree

PhD degrees and professional doctorates have this in common: You can earn either through an online university. Why should you add online options to your list of universities to consider? Because online education provides a number of benefits you won’t enjoy at even an exceptional campus-based university.

Walden University is an accredited online university offering professional doctorates and PhD degree programs online. When you choose Walden, you won’t have to worry about moving to be close to campus. You won’t even have to drive to a campus. Instead, when you earn a degree online, you can complete the majority of your coursework from home. Plus, both online PhD programs and online professional doctorate programs often offer a flexible format that doesn’t require you to attend class at a specific time of day. With Walden’s online degree programs, you can arrange your learning schedule so that it works with your full-time job and family responsibilities.

Visit Walden’s online doctoral degree pageto see the wide range of professional doctorate and PhD programs offered. Find out how Walden’s numerous support opportunities, from doctoral peer mentors to knowledgeable financial advisors, can help make your doctoral degree experience a success. For more details, explore Walden’s doctoral journey page. There, you’ll learn more about what your educational path could look like, what it takes to earn a doctorate, and how to fund your degree.

Still have questions? Simply complete a quick form online to request information. Whether you have questions about degree programs, admissions, financial aid, or any other details, a Walden Enrollment Specialist will respond with all of the information you need.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering a range of PhD and professional doctoral programs online. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

1Source: www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2021/data-on-display/education-pays.htm

what-is-the-difference-between-a-phd-and-a-professional-doctoral-degree (2024)

FAQs

What-is-the-difference-between-a-phd-and-a-professional-doctoral-degree? ›

Most learners who earn PhDs go on to conduct academic research and fill prestigious roles in academia, including teaching

teaching
Education is the transmission of knowledge, skills, and character traits and manifests in various forms. Formal education occurs within a structured institutional framework, such as public schools, following a curriculum.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Education
. A professional doctorate, however, is geared more toward practical application within a field.

What's the difference between a PhD and a professional doctoral degree? ›

A PhD primarily emphasizes original research and contributes to theoretical knowledge, while a professional doctorate places greater emphasis on applying research to professional settings and addressing real-world challenges.

What's the difference between a PhD and an EdD? ›

If you're interested in pursuing a career as a school administrator, college/university administrator, curriculum developer, or counselor in a leadership position, then you should consider pursuing an EdD. If you're interested in pursuing a teaching or research career in academia, you should consider a PhD degree.

Why do professional degrees make more than doctoral degrees? ›

Since professional degree holders have a more practical approach rather than a scholarly approach to business management, therefore these professionals earn more. Similarly, it is evident that PhD holders earn more in the fields requiring extensive research.

How hard is it to get a doctoral or professional degree? ›

Successfully completing a PhD can be a long and difficult process that requires years of intensive research, writing and rigorous assessment. It's no surprise that only around 1% of people aged 25–64 who have been to university have completed a doctorate.

How many years is a doctoral professional degree? ›

The time it takes to finish a doctorate program and earn your degree varies. However, most doctorate programs require anywhere from three to eight years to complete.

Can you use Dr. if you have a doctorate? ›

If, when meeting people with doctorates, you're unsure how to address them, "Dr." is always correct.

Is a PhD more prestigious than a 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.

Can a JD be called Doctor? ›

But unlike other Ph. D. holders, lawyers don't hold the title of "Doctor." Instead, they can choose to use the title "esquire," which is shortened to "Esq." and is fashioned after the lawyer's name. In many states, you won't qualify to take the bar exam without first getting your JD.

Is it better to say PhD or doctorate? ›

A Doctorate is an umbrella term covering a wide range of fields, including professional degrees, humanities, and scientific disciplines. A Ph. D., or Doctor of Philosophy, is a specific type of doctoral degree, typically focused on research and academic pursuits in the humanities and scientific fields.

Are professional doctorates any good? ›

You can qualify for top-level positions.

A rigorous professional doctoral program will push your boundaries and teach you how to think through and solve complex problems that you can translate directly to your industry.

What is the highest degree than PhD? ›

The Doctor of Divinity (DDiv) and the Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) are considered by Oxford to outrank all other degrees, including a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. The DDiv is usually awarded for academic accomplishments beyond the PhD level.

Who gets paid more, MD or PhD? ›

This should give you an idea of how passionate physician-scientists are about biomedical research. For MDs, depending on their specialty and setting, the average annual salary is around $220k. For MD PhDs, depending on the type of role and place of employment, the average annual salary is about $100k.

What is the easiest doctoral degree to get? ›

Generally, education, humanities, and the social sciences are considered the easiest fields in which to pursue degrees.

Can you be a doctor without a PhD? ›

Contracted "Dr" or "Dr.", it is used as a designation for a person who has obtained a doctorate (commonly a PhD/DPhil). In past usage, the term could be applied to any learned person. In many parts of the world today it is also used by medical practitioners, regardless of whether they hold a doctoral-level degree.

What level is professional doctorate? ›

Level 8. Level 8 qualifications are: doctorate, for example doctor of philosophy ( PhD or DPhil )

How many years is a professional degree? ›

A professional degree should meet the following criteria: Completion of the academic requirements to start the practice in the profession. Two years of college before entering the program. The program must last at least six years.

Is an MD a professional doctorate? ›

MD is the abbreviation for Doctor of Medicine and PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy. These are two types of doctoral degrees in addition to professional doctorates. An MD is a doctoral degree for medical professionals, while a PhD is an academic degree focused on original research.

What doctoral degree is equivalent to a PhD? ›

PhD equivalent degrees

There are several degrees which are equivalent to a PhD but have a different title, such as: Doctor of Science (DSc): USA, Japan, South Korea, Egypt. Doctor of Juridical Science and Doctor of the Science of Law: USA.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Foster Heidenreich CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6324

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Foster Heidenreich CPA

Birthday: 1995-01-14

Address: 55021 Usha Garden, North Larisa, DE 19209

Phone: +6812240846623

Job: Corporate Healthcare Strategist

Hobby: Singing, Listening to music, Rafting, LARPing, Gardening, Quilting, Rappelling

Introduction: My name is Foster Heidenreich CPA, I am a delightful, quaint, glorious, quaint, faithful, enchanting, fine person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.