The Doctor of Philosophy, or just Ph.D., is the most prestige degree in existence. Actually, the typical amount of time needed to get a Ph.D. is 5 years, though the degree's financial payment is huge. Professionals with doctorates get about $37,265 more every year than workers having bachelor's degrees.

A doctoral degree is actually the highest educational credential that it is possible to get. Whether it is a research Ph.D., a D.A., or other variant, the degree usually requires 4 to 6 years of additional learning beyond a master's level. In order to earn a doctoral degree a grad student should finish a course of study, conduct original research as well as write a publishable dissertation or thesis. It is not surprisingly that only 1 in 100 Americans can call themselves "doctor." Thus, a doctorate always commands respect.

Doctoral students take the advanced courses in their chosen areas, typically in independent studies or small seminars. The coursework often takes 3 to 4 semesters of full-time learning. When the coursework is ended, the doctoral candidate should pass oral or written doctoral qualifying examinations, proving they have ample background to continue with independent research.

Also, the qualifying examination is provided by the candidate's staff, usually 3 to 5 professors in a candidate's program agreeing to guide a candidate's research. Ph.D. candidates pursue original research as well as write a book-length dissertation or thesis. When the thesis is complete, a candidate should orally defend the conclusions before this committee. When a candidate defends successfully and then deposits the finished thesis with the college, the title "doctor" is earned.

Since the doctorate is the elite degree, and program accreditation is a very serious question. Even the government of the USA has been deceived by diploma mills that pose as legitimate degree-granting institutions. Actually, any prospective student should assess the credentials of a particular college before committing to any lengthy and hard program of doctoral study. Also, a school providing a easy and quick Ph.D. should not be taken in a serious way, and it should not get a student's hard-earned money.