My research

What a doctorate is

Getting a PhD (doctorate of philosophy) should not be mysterious. In terms of actual work, I found my bachelor’s degree to be the most strenuous of each of my degrees. Five years, classes covering subjects for which I had zero interest, and students who did not want to be there, was a laborious experience at the time and even in hindsight.

Comparatively my master’s degree was a breeze. It took three years (60-plus credits, a non-thesis degree). That was all coursework and interning in schools, plus working half-time.

Getting a doctorate is a completely different experience. By the time of completing your master’s degree, you are in fact an expert in your subject matter. Experts are technically different than the word thrown loosely about on social networks and in lay books and publications. In academia, an expert is defined; in social media, an expert is anyone who claims to be one.

A master’s degree indicates mastery over a subject. Typically master’s degree students write a research thesis, either qualitative or quantitative. Based on approval of a faculty committee, this thesis gives a master’s degree designation.

A doctorate is much the same process but far more in depth. Master’s degree students often do the research of their major professor. Doctoral students may have greater opportunities to do their own research. It depends on the school, the field of study and the professors. Getting a doctorate typically means doing a lengthy – many years, in some cases – research project followed by writing the results of that research, the dissertation.

This process is ultimately hyper-focused. The student is expected to zero in on a topic – or more likely, a subtopic and even more condensed topics within a broad field of research – and study it in depth. The end result is usually a fairly knowledgeable person in one specific area of expertise. This somewhat entertaining list of dissertation titles, from UNR’s Social Psychology Club, gives examples of how specific dissertations can be.

To be continued.