terminal degree
Final academic credential
A terminal degree is the highest academic degree available in a particular field.
For most disciplines, this is a doctorate: a PhD in physics, a JD in law, a MD in medicine.
In fields where professional practice takes precedence over research, a master's degree may be terminal: an MFA in creative writing, an MBA in business.
She completed her terminal degree at forty.
Highest academic credential
Extended academic treatise
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- defenseProtection against harm
- viva voceSpoken academic examination
- candidacyPursuit of office
commencement · hooding · convocation · graduation · oral examination · comprehensive exams · prospectus · research
Senior academic administrator
- deanSenior academic administrator
- chancellorSenior administrative official
- rectorParish clergy chief
- regentInterim throne holder
trustees · board · senate · accreditation · administration · department chair · graduate school · registrar
Protected employment status
- professorshipSenior academic post
- academiaHigher education community
- scholarLearned, studious person
- researcherOne who studies systematically
faculty · postdoctoral · academic job market · tenure track · adjunct · lecturer · teaching · publish or perish
Top graduation honor
- magna cum laudeLatin academic distinction
- cum laudeAcademic distinction phrase
- honorsRecognition for achievement
- accoladeExpression of high esteem
regalia · academic dress · valedictorian · distinction · merit · recognition
PhD
Highest academic credential
DSW · DPT · PharmD · DVM · DDS · DBA · DMA · DPhil · MFA · DNP
dissertation
Extended academic treatise
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- defenseProtection against harm
- viva voceSpoken academic examination
candidacy · commencement · hooding · convocation · graduation · oral examination · comprehensive exams · prospectus · research · qualifying exams
provost
Senior academic administrator
- deanSenior academic administrator
- chancellorSenior administrative official
- rectorParish clergy chief
regent · trustees · board · senate · accreditation · administration · department chair · graduate school · registrar
tenure
Protected employment status
- professorshipSenior academic post
- academiaHigher education community
- scholarLearned, studious person
researcher · faculty · postdoctoral · academic job market · tenure track · adjunct · lecturer · teaching · publish or perish · accreditation
summa cum laude
Top graduation honor
- magna cum laudeLatin academic distinction
- cum laudeAcademic distinction phrase
- honorsRecognition for achievement
accolade · regalia · academic dress · valedictorian · distinction · merit · recognition
- degreeshigh school diploma, GED, BS, PhD, doctorate
- Academic DegreesPhD, MBA, BS, MD, JD
- MFA programscreative writing, fine arts, studio art, visual arts, candidacy
- Academic Honorscum laude, summa cum laude, dean's list, honor roll, valedictorian
terminal degreeundergraduate degree
First post-secondary qualification
bachelor's degree · associate degree · master's degree · first degree
terminal degreeundeclared major
terminal, degree, term, terms, termed, terming, terminus, terminate, terminates