What is Phd program: Definition and 79 Discussions

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin philosophiae doctor or doctor philosophiae) is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is an earned research degree, those studying for a PhD are required to produce original research that expands the boundaries of knowledge, normally in the form of a thesis or dissertation, and defend their work against experts in the field. The completion of a PhD is often a requirement for employment as a university professor, researcher, or scientist in many fields. Individuals who have earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree may, in many jurisdictions, use the title Doctor (often abbreviated "Dr" or "Dr.") with their name, although the proper etiquette associated with this usage may also be subject to the professional ethics of their own scholarly field, culture, or society. Those who teach at universities or work in academic, educational, or research fields are usually addressed by this title "professionally and socially in a salutation or conversation." Alternatively, holders may use post-nominal letters such as "Ph.D.", "PhD", or "DPhil" (depending on the awarding institution). It is, however, considered incorrect to use both the title and post-nominals at the same time.The specific requirements to earn a PhD degree vary considerably according to the country, institution, and time period, from entry-level research degrees to higher doctorates. During the studies that lead to the degree, the student is called a doctoral student or PhD student; a student who has completed all their coursework and comprehensive examinations and is working on their thesis/dissertation is sometimes known as a doctoral candidate or PhD candidate (see: all but dissertation). A student attaining this level may be granted a Candidate of Philosophy degree at some institutions or may be granted a master's degree en route to the doctoral degree. Sometimes this status is also colloquially known as "PhD ABD," meaning "All But Dissertation."A PhD candidate must submit a project, thesis, or dissertation often consisting of a body of original academic research, which is in principle worthy of publication in a peer-reviewed journal. In many countries, a candidate must defend this work before a panel of expert examiners appointed by the university. Universities sometimes award other types of doctorate besides the PhD, such as the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) for music performers and the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) for studies in education. In 2005 the European Universities Association defined the "Salzburg Principles," 10 basic principles for third-cycle degrees (doctorates) within the Bologna Process. These were followed in 2016 by the "Florence Principles," seven basic principles for doctorates in the arts laid out by the European League of Institutes of the Arts, which have been endorsed by the European Association of Conservatoires, the International Association of Film and Television Schools, the International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media, and the Society for Artistic Research.In some countries like China and Japan, a recipient of doctorate in disciplines such as engineering and pharmacy where professional degrees (for example, EngD and PharmD) are usually awarded in the western countries, is called a PhD regardless. It is not uncommon that the person's title or diploma be translated into English as PhD in (that discipline). In these countries, the distinction between professional doctorates and PhDs is less significant.In the context of the Doctor of Philosophy and other similarly titled degrees, the term "philosophy" does not refer to the field or academic discipline of philosophy, but is used in a broader sense in accordance with its original Greek meaning, which is "love of wisdom." In most of Europe, all fields (history, philosophy, social sciences, mathematics, and natural philosophy/sciences) other than theology, law, and medicine (the so-called professional, vocational, or technical curriculum) were traditionally known as philosophy, and in Germany and elsewhere in Europe the basic faculty of liberal arts was known as the "faculty of philosophy."

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  1. T

    Programs Is it acceptable to leave a PhD program after a semester or a year?

    I'm currently in my first semester of a physics PhD program, straight out of undergrad. At the end of my senior year of undergrad, I was already feeling burnt out and tired of course work, but my profs pushed grad school as the smart and best choice. So I went. Since I moved here (14 hours...
  2. T

    Programs Which applied math phd program to apply to?

    Hi guys, I am trying to figure out what Applied Math PhD programs I should I apply to this fall. My main interests are in computational science, specifically numerical methods and stochastic methods. My profile is as follow: Undergrad: big state school, solid reputation in math Major...
  3. L

    Programs Leaving with a phd program with masters, or drop out, in this context?

    I finished my undergrad last year and joined this phd program in fall. I passed the qualifiers in December, and over the two semesters, I have completed all the necessary phd courses, taking no master's courses. Early in the year, I was contacted by a Professor in hep-exp to try out his group...
  4. M

    Programs Preparing for a Finance PhD Program: What It Takes

    I would like to study Maths or Physics for my undergrad and eventually, go to grad school. I can't possibly know if I'd want to go to grad school in science and I'm just curious with regards to what it takes to get into a Finance PhD program. For maths/physics, it is my understanding that very...
  5. C

    Programs Can a Master's Program Help You Get into a Top PhD Program in Physics?

    I am curious to know if someone from a physics Masters program at a state school (high GPA, excellent research) has the the same chance of admission to Harvard, Princeton, or MIT PhD program vs someone with similar stats from undergraduate. How hard is it to get into top 10 schools from Master's...
  6. K

    Programs About to start PhD program at top five school but feeling burnt out

    I'm about to start a PhD program at a top 5 school but I'm just not feeling excited about it. I feel burnt out and I've lost my enthusiasm for physics. As an undergrad I worked ridiculously hard and sacrificed my social life for physics and I just feel like I can't do that for another six...
  7. M

    Programs Chances and Preparation for Fall 2012 Math PhD Program

    Would I be able to get into any PhD Program for applied math? Would you please recommend some PhD and/or masters (with funding) programs to apply to? I'll be graduating in Spring 2012 and unfortunately, my undergrad institution only funds for an extra semester, so my only choice is to apply to...
  8. E

    Programs Can Average Math Students Succeed in a PhD Program?

    I am a math major and I am in my 3rd year of undergrad. So I will be applying to grad schools in the fall. I would like to get a PhD. My only worry is that I am only an average student in my math classes. I believe that I am more passionate about the subject than most math majors. I work hard...
  9. C

    Programs Chances of getting into a PhD program?

    I am a double major (Chemical Engineering and Applied Math) and I will be graduating next December with a 3.6 GPA. I have had an engineering internship with an aerospace company for the past 2 years. I'm a member of Omega Chi Epsilon, a sorority, and various other professional organizations...
  10. D

    Programs How much Physics does a math PHD program expect

    I'm on track to finish a fairly strong Math BS in two years (including for example year long grad courses in Real/Complex/Algebra/PDE/DiffGeo/Dynamical Systems). The problem is that I will not have taken any physics beyond the basic freshmen introductory sequence. I will have a decent amount of...
  11. I

    Programs Will these courses will be good enough preparation for a pure math PhD program?

    I'm currently a freshman and these are all the math courses I plan on taking in 4 years. Undergrad: - Calc II (taken), Calc III, Linear Algebra I, Linear Algebra II, Real Analysis I, Real Analysis II, Ordinary Differential Equations, Intro to Abstract Algebra, Complex Variables, Survey of...
  12. S

    Programs Questions about transferring from a PHD program in Physics to Audio Engineer

    Hi, I am a first year PHD student in physics at a top ten university. I finished my undergraduate degree at a Liberal Arts college (hence, my degree was a Bachelors of the Arts) in math and physics. I didn't do too poorly during my first semester (I got a B average), but I decided that I want...
  13. 1

    Programs Will graduate courses taken as undergrad transfer to a PHD program?

    I can graduate a semester early or stay and take some grad classes. In the later scenario I want to transfer them to a PHD program (in statistics). However some PHD programs say transfer credits must be taken with graduate status; or they don't accept transfer credits period. In that case...
  14. J

    Programs Chances of getting into a regular pure math PhD program

    Hi everyone. I want to get into an okay PhD program for pure math (analysis or algebra). I don't care if it is a lowly university, just so it is accredited. What are my chances of getting into such a program with funding? To how many universities should I apply? My background is as follows...
  15. P

    Programs Wayne State Physics PhD program

    I am applying to Wayne State's physics PhD program. Does anyone know anything about Wayne's physics graduate program? Is it any good? Will I be able to get a tenure track academic job assuming I do a good post-doc? I am applying to Wayne because my GRE score is rather low and will keep me...
  16. 1

    Programs Ditching from a 5 yr BS/MS program to go to a PHD program?

    I'm in my 3rd yr at a top school. I'm deciding on whether to apply for the 5 yr BS/MS program. On one hand, it's a simple internal application and i'd be almost guaranteed into a very reputable masters program. On the other hand, i still plan to apply to other PHD programs in my 4th yr. If...
  17. P

    Programs Career in academia after graduating from a lesser PhD program

    Hello, I am considering getting a PhD in physics from a lower ranking university (not really bad though). I think it is ranked about 50th in physics by USNews. Is there any chance of breaking into a career in academia? I would like to teach physics at a small liberal arts college...
  18. C

    Programs Will my past keep me from getting into a top PhD program?

    I've already received a bachelor's degree in Political Science. I wanted to do something science related but nearly failed out freshman year for slacking off and getting awful grades. Thus I was forced to choose a different path and although my grades picked up after that, I ended up graduating...
  19. D

    Programs Master's from long ago abandoned PhD program?

    I'd like to earn a Master's, without starting from scratch, taking the whole bunch of classes again. In the 1980s, I had been in the PhD physics program at a large midwestern university. After passing the PhD qualifier and spending a year as a technician at a major research lab, I left...
  20. M

    Programs How can I get into MIT Physics Phd program?

    Hey! I'm a freshman at Grove City college, (small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania) and am majoring in physics. What should I do to eventually get into the MIT (or other really good school's) Phd physics program. I'm willing to work really hard for it (I suppose you have to) and will do...
  21. Y

    Programs How to get accepted to a PhD Program in the USA as a foreigner

    Hello to all of you, for a long time i have been reading in your forum and now i decided do post a question on my own. As stated in the title, i would like enter a PhD Program at an American University. So far i have obtained a (3-year) Bachelors degree and will receive a (2-year) Physics...
  22. N

    Programs Straight to PhD after undergrad in physics and math?

    Hey- I've read these forums for a couple of months, I'm sort of a nerd, so i enjoy working out problems even if i never post solutions to them. :). Anyways, I do have a question. I was wondering about the difference between masters and PhD programs in physics and mathematics. I've heard...
  23. JasonJo

    Programs Harder to get into PhD program this year?

    Will it be tougher to get into a PhD program this year due to the economic situation? I know at my school there have been budget cuts and I'm sure many other public univerisities are doing the same. I've also heard that a few private institutions have taken sizable hits to their endowment...
  24. U

    Programs What kind of credentials for EE PhD program?

    Hi, I am a junior electrical engineering major at University of Delaware. I want to get my PhD right after I graduate, and I'm not really sure what kind of schools I should apply to. I want to go to school in the northeast and not stray too far from that. Here are the credentials I will have...
  25. G

    Programs Searching for Interdisciplinary PhD Program on Logic

    Is there any PhD Program in US on logic where I can apply as a student with a computer science background and further combine my interest in logic, philosophy, math and computer science? For now, I only know a program at CMU, which is PhD Program in Pure and Applied Logic.
  26. C

    Programs What are my chances at getting accepted to a PhD program in Astrophysics?

    So rather than give my life's story, I'll make it relatively short. I got my BS in Physics last year, and am currently working on my MS in Astronautical Engineering at a top 10 engineering school. I will be done in December, and lately I have been thinking about getting my PhD in Astrophysics. I...
  27. M

    Schools Advice on Applying to a PhD Program in Computational Biology

    Hello everyone, I'm in my 4th year of college as a Biological Science major with a minor in Mathematics and am ready to apply to a PhD program in Computational Biology and Molecular Biophysics at my current institution. Overall, I have about 3.6 with a lot of basic sciences at a Community...
  28. G

    Programs Anyone else drop their PhD program?

    My back story is below if you care to read it, but my questions to you are: What was your experience after quitting your PhD program? Do employers look down on the fact that you got out of a PhD position without completing it? Did you continue to pursue employment in the same field that you...
  29. phoenixthoth

    How Hard is it to Get Into a Math/Physics PhD Program?

    Exactly how hard is it to get in? I would probably do the mathematical logic program and maybe pre-phd program...? My thesis of my thesis is just posted... https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=132252 Kinda sounds like I'm looking for a bridge between set theory and string...
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