Exploring the Doctorate Degree: What You Need to Know

In this post, you’ll learn exactly what a doctorate degree is, discover different types of doctoral degrees and degree pathways, and discover the “orals” and the capstone project.

The “orals” are usually led by members of the faculty who teach graduate studies at the school you’re attending. They serve as a means for measuring progress and readiness before dissertation research begins.

Once these exams are conquered, you’ll typically need to complete the required capstone project — most commonly a research-based doctoral dissertation.

In professional doctorate programs, you may have the option of doing some other kind of capstone project, in lieu of a dissertation. These options often take the form of a realistic and in-depth case study analysis, field study activity, or experimental laboratory or clinical research project — something relevant to your industry and the kind of professional roles you’re aspiring to.

Virtually all doctoral degree programs also include courses dedicated to research methods that help you identify and articulate an original research topic and research approach.

When completed, your dissertation will stand as a sound scholarly work that contributes original knowledge to your field — usually responding to and building on prior research — and which showcases your ability to apply accepted research methods.

Unlike most other degrees, at the heart of any doctorate journey is research.

The emphasis on research in your doctoral program means you’ll be synthesizing foundational knowledge to develop a compelling line of inquiry. You’ll immerse yourself in existing bodies of knowledge, identifying gaps, formulating relevant questions, and seeking answers to those questions.

Earning a doctorate is like building a tower of knowledge in your chosen field. Your intensive and comprehensive studies are the foundation, and your research allows you to add new bricks to the edifice of understanding that leads to new insights, claims, or discoveries.

Depending on your field, area of research, and research objectives and methods, your research work will rely on one or more of the following research sources:

As a doctoral student, you’ll contribute to academic discourse and may even impact real-world issues. You’ll also turn yourself into a leading expert in your specific subfield!

It’s crucial to understand the distinction between a dissertation and a thesis. While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, a thesis is typically associated with master’s degrees and focuses on synthesizing existing research.

A thesis typically requires less time to complete, has a fairly standard format, and does not have the methodology challenges posed by dissertation projects. Some bachelor degree programs and many master degree programs require a thesis.

A dissertation involves presenting unique contributions to the field based on original research or on a new avenue of inquiry that synthesizes existing research, uses a clear and accepted methodology, and culminates in new theories or insights. Most PhD programs and some professional doctorate programs require a dissertation.

To give you an idea of how inventive and specialized dissertation topics are, here are a few sample titles of actual dissertations:

• PhD in Health Policy: “Decision-Making for Allocation of Public Resources in Decentralized District Health Systems in Uganda”
• PhD in Psychology: “Leading By Example Motivates Prosociality through Second-Order Belief Inference”
• PhD in Applied Science and Engineering: “Deterministic Transaction Execution in Distributed Database Systems”
• PhD in English: “An Intellectual History of Black Literary Discourse 1910-1956”

Is a dissertation always required for a Professional Doctorate vs PhD? Because most PhD programs are designed to lead to jobs in academia, a dissertation is usually required. Professional doctorate programs vary, with many offering a more practical form of capstone project as an alternative to a dissertation.

Once your dissertation is complete, the culmination of your research journey awaits: the defense. Not all programs include this step, but it is common.

As the dissertation writer, you’re proposing some original findings for other scholars in your field. Your dissertation defense is kind of like an academic rite of passage: your work will be subject to pointed questions about your approach, underlying assumptions, methodology, factual accuracy, key claims or findings.

What to expect when it’s time to defend your dissertation:

This is both a nerve-wracking and exhilarating experience, as it’s a chance to showcase your expertise and receive critical feedback from seasoned scholars!

Pursuing a doctorate can be intellectually stimulating, but for most mere mortals it also requires a good dose of resilience and perseverance. You’ll find yourself juggling commitments without much outside supervision or structure, navigating a prickly relationship with a faculty advisor or mentor, and being in circles where high expectations are the norm when it comes to the pursuit of knowledge and academic rigor.

The pursuit of original research and the demands of coursework can also take a toll on your work-life balance. It’s essential to have a support system in place to help you navigate these demands.