nondoctoral
Not PhD-level
Nondoctoral describes academic programs, degrees, or positions that do not involve or require a doctorate.
A nondoctoral program might offer master's or bachelor's degrees but not PhDs.
The term appears frequently in higher education contexts to distinguish between institutions or tracks: She chose a nondoctoral master's program focused on professional training rather than research.
Non-specialist or unordained person
- amateurNonprofessional participant
- generalistOne with broad expertise
- self-taughtEducated without instructors
- autodidactOne who teaches themselves
hobbyist · enthusiast · nonprofessional · untrained · informal · lay · nonacademic · nonspecialist
Formal written attestation
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- apprenticeshipLearning trade through employment
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
- trade schoolCareer-focused technical education
technical · licensure · practicum · credential · workshop · hands-on · skilled trades · journeyman
First university degree
- associate'sTwo-year college degree
- freshmanFirst-year student
- sophomoreSecond-year pupil
- juniorLower in standing
senior · underclassman · upperclassman · matriculate · tuition · dormitory · campus · major
Advanced graduate credential
- postgraduateScholar past undergraduate level
- courseworkStudent academic tasks
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
seminar · curriculum · syllabus · lecturer · scholarship · fellowship · journal · publication
layperson
Non-specialist or unordained person
- amateurNonprofessional participant
- generalistOne with broad expertise
- self-taughtEducated without instructors
autodidact · hobbyist · enthusiast · nonprofessional · untrained · informal · lay · nonacademic · nonspecialist · practitioner
certificate
Formal written attestation
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- apprenticeshipLearning trade through employment
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
trade school · technical · licensure · practicum · credential · workshop · hands-on · skilled trades · journeyman · occupational
bachelor's
First university degree
- associate'sTwo-year college degree
- freshmanFirst-year student
- sophomoreSecond-year pupil
junior · senior · underclassman · upperclassman · matriculate · tuition · dormitory · campus · major · minor
master's
Advanced graduate credential
- postgraduateScholar past undergraduate level
- courseworkStudent academic tasks
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
research · seminar · curriculum · syllabus · lecturer · scholarship · fellowship · journal · publication · conference