What Can You Do With a Doctoral Degree?
A doctoral degree 鈥� also known as a terminal degree 鈥� is the highest level of education you can receive in a given field of study. of people in the U.S. have earned this coveted advanced degree, but those who have typically assume top leadership positions in their fields, conduct important research, or pursue some of the highest-paying occupations, such as doctors and lawyers.
What Is a Doctoral Degree?
There are two types of doctoral credentials. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research-oriented program that trains graduates to teach at the postsecondary level, conduct research in industry, and advance knowledge in their field. On the other hand, professional doctorates are awarded in practice-focused fields such as law, medicine, nursing, education, and business. These degrees teach students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings associated with their chosen profession.
In short, a doctoral degree is a highly specialized credential that can lead to of academic and professional preparation to earn a doctoral degree. Given this, graduates develop in-depth knowledge of the theories and practices associated with their area of study — along with a keen understanding of how to apply their training in practical settings. In addition, however, doctoral students also pick up a wide range of soft skills during their time in academia, which can qualify them for a wide variety of career paths. Some of these skills include:
Writing
Most, if not all, doctoral programs contain a significant writing component. Whether in the form of research papers, white papers, or a full-scale dissertation, students have several opportunities to sharpen their writing skills, often with an emphasis on how to present technical information succinctly and accurately.
Communication
As individuals with significant subject area expertise, doctoral degree holders spend many years honing their ability to communicate complex information to different audiences. Programs that include a teaching component train graduates to present information at the college level, while those that encourage students to attend conferences train them to converse with individuals in policy, government, and other professional circles.
Research
Research is a fundamental component of any doctoral program, with students expected to collect original data and present their findings in public settings. They tend to develop strong skills in various data collection and analysis strategies. In many cases, students develop expertise in one or several methods, such as interviewing, statistics, and textual analysis. Depending on their chosen field, they may also have the choice to focus on either qualitative or quantitative strategies.
Critical Thinking
Doctoral students are trained from the very beginning to practice their knowledge in real-world circumstances. This can involve learning to apply their understanding of the law, medicine, or other disciplines in relevant settings. With this training, doctoral students tend to develop strong critical thinking skills, allowing them to think out of the box, apply their evidence-based judgment, and explore new ways to observe and understand the world around them.
Problem Solving
A large part of one's doctoral training involves solving problems that affect how we live, communicate, and interact with each other. Learning how to address challenges — often through previously unexplored avenues — is a skill that doctoral degree holders excel at.
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Common Careers That Require a Doctorate
Many careers require a terminal degree, but the amount of time needed to earn the degree varies according to the type of degree. Professional doctorates in health care, for example, involve significant levels of technical knowledge and often require at least four years of additional education beyond an undergraduate degree. Doctorates that focus on conducting research in disciplines like science or technology also take four to seven years to complete. However, applied research doctorates — those that teach students to apply existing knowledge to problems in fields such as education or social services — can often be completed in three years.
The following are some of the career options available to those who earn doctoral degrees:
Biochemists or Biophysicists
As scientists, are involved in different kinds of court proceedings. However, they also work on other legal matters such as arbitration, contract drafting, and estate planning. Their primary responsibility is to represent their client's interests in situations that require legal expertise. Given this, lawyers tend to specialize in a particular area of law. For instance, while some may focus on employment law, others work in areas such as environmental law, criminal law, and family law. Lawyers can have many different types of clients, including individuals, businesses, and government organizations.
Medical Scientists
In the fast-growing health care industry,