PhD
Dissertation earns it
PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy, the highest academic degree awarded by universities.
Despite the name, it applies to any field—you can earn a PhD in chemistry, history, or engineering.
The degree requires original research culminating in a dissertation.
Someone with a PhD may be addressed as "Doctor": Dr. Chen defended her PhD thesis on medieval trade routes.
Also written Ph.D.
Pursuit of office
- defenseProtection against harm
- vivaAcclaim meaning "live"
- dissertationExtended academic treatise
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
prospectus · committee · supervisor · advisor · revision · submission · approval · milestone
Higher education institution
- professorSenior university teacher
- academiaHigher education community
- facultyInherent power or ability
- tenureProtected employment status
seminar · colloquium · lecturer · department · scholarship · fellowship · postdoc · sabbatical
Extended academic treatise
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
data · analysis · findings · laboratory · fieldwork · publication · journal · citation
Higher education institution
- collegeHigher education institution
- campusInstitutional grounds and buildings
- tuitionPayment for instruction
- fundingSupplying monetary resources
grants · stipend · assistantship · admissions · program · department · lab · library
Act of starting
- convocationFormal ceremonial gathering
- hoodingCovering the head
- regaliaCeremonial emblems of authority
- gownLong formal garment
tassel · diploma · alumnus · conferral · ceremony · celebration · achievement · completion
Concentrated expertise in one field
- masteryComplete skill or control
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- expertHighly skilled practitioner
- knowledgeUnderstood facts and skills
proficiency · scholar · discipline · niche · contribution · specialist · thought-leader · researcher
candidacy
Pursuit of office
- defenseProtection against harm
- vivaAcclaim meaning "live"
- dissertationExtended academic treatise
proposal · prospectus · committee · supervisor · advisor · revision · submission · approval · milestone · ABD
university
Higher education institution
- professorSenior university teacher
- academiaHigher education community
- facultyInherent power or ability
tenure · seminar · colloquium · lecturer · department · scholarship · fellowship · postdoc · sabbatical · adjunct
dissertation
Extended academic treatise
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
experimentation · data · analysis · findings · laboratory · fieldwork · publication · journal · citation · breakthrough
university
Higher education institution
- collegeHigher education institution
- campusInstitutional grounds and buildings
- tuitionPayment for instruction
funding · grants · stipend · assistantship · admissions · program · department · lab · library · resources
commencement
Act of starting
- convocationFormal ceremonial gathering
- hoodingCovering the head
- regaliaCeremonial emblems of authority
gown · tassel · diploma · alumnus · conferral · ceremony · celebration · achievement · completion · laureate
specialization
Concentrated expertise in one field
- masteryComplete skill or control
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- expertHighly skilled practitioner
knowledge · proficiency · scholar · discipline · niche · contribution · specialist · thought-leader · researcher · academician
- careerslawyer, teacher, engineer, nurse, chef
- academiaprofessors, universities, graduation cap, biology department, professor
- higher educationuniversity, college, degree, diploma, graduate school
- universitycampus, faculty, college, professors, degrees
- degreeshigh school diploma, bachelor's degree, GED, master's degree, BS
- Academic DegreesMBA, BS, MD, JD, MA
Secondary graduation certificate
GED · bachelor's degree · associate's degree · dropout · master's degree
PhDunschooled
Lacking formal instruction
layperson · novice · amateur · school dropout · beginner
PhDself-taught
Educated without instructors
autodidact · street smart · school of hard knocks · practical experience · hands-on training
- PhD programAdvanced research degree course
- PhD studentsAdvanced degree pursuers
- PhD thesisDoctoral degree requirement document
- PhD candidatePre-degree academic researcher
- PhD researchInquiry for doctoral degree
- PhD thesesResearch works for doctorates
philosophy, philosopher, philosophical, philosophically, philosophize, philosophies, sophist, sophistry, sophisticated