More than one PhD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I have a friend who is a fully qualified medical doctor with an additional PhD in blood born diseases. That's her specialty.

Uuuuh that was probably an MD/PhD program and a medical doctor is NOT a PhD lol. Multiple PhDs is usually a sign of poor planning and/or a major life mistake. Most PhD programs allow and in fact require minors or concentrations outside of your area of interest in order to get your degree. So, let's say I'm getting a PhD in psychology but i think I'm more interested in the computational side of cognitive science. I could take PhD level classes in computer science if that would contribute to my understanding of the topic. Or I'm getting a PhD in economics and I know I want to focus more on finance topics - I could take finance seminars in the business school (at most schools) for a finance minor concentration. People who are crappy planners do things like get a PhD in Social Psychology or Economics but didn't have the foresight or planning capability to take the proper mix of courses, so they then make the severe life error of going BACK for another PhD in Cognitive Science or Finance. Two PhDs is not a mark of pride

Some people love learning and are curious. You don't have to put them down just to make yourself feel better about your personal choices.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who is working and publishing in two completely unrelated areas. He has PhD in one (mechanical engineering) and I think he completed all but the dissertation in another (ethnic studies). He is a tenured professor for engineering, but every summer he does some visiting stuff and fieldwork for the ethnic studies. He also does it for sabbaticals from his main job.

As to how he ended up in this situation, he is an immigrant. He did his undergrad for engineering and the coursework for ethnic studies abroad, but then he wanted a better life, so applied for a PhD in engineering in US.

[Anonymous]

I have a PhD, love learning and am curious. But that’s why I would not need another PhD unless I suddenly decided that my true passion was a lab science or CS/engineering. I know how to learn and how to develop/explore my interests on my own at this point. That could include taking courses, but no need for another degree program if the work I’m doing is still largely text-based and/or observational.

And I certainly know scientists who have moved across scientific fields without getting a second PhD. Lots of disciplinary boundaries are fluid and if you acquired the relevant skillset during your first PhD, there’s no intellectual reason you need to pursue a second PhD. (Could be a credentialing issue, I suppose, but that’s not likely if you’re a tenured academic.)

[Anonymous]

I know a person who got an Econ PhD, couldn’t get an academic job, didn’t like the industry job, so applied and got accepted to the top PhD program in Finance, plus another 5 years but eventually got an academic job.

[Anonymous]

I know people who have done the second one later is n life often building on a primary research interest. Had a friend who was a psychologist who worked with incarcerated people. He later got a second doctorate in criminology — at that point, he had already been reading the journals and going to conferences and self educating for years.

[Anonymous]

Seems like a huge opportunity cost.

I think it is far more common to earn ONE PhD, then become self-trained in the second field of interest through sabbaticals and/or collaborations.

In many circumstances, people do not really examine what the person's exact PhD is in, as long as they know how to do research.

[Anonymous]

^^True, or a post-doc.

[Anonymous]

Another PhD going "ugh"! There are a few rare people who have done this, but honestly it seems like more cost than benefit, especially with post-PhD employment prospects in most fields. If I were to go back to school, which i won't, I'd probably do an MBA or something so i could take my PhD somewhere with higher earning power, and be more of a decision maker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I have a friend who is a fully qualified medical doctor with an additional PhD in blood born diseases. That's her specialty.

That is a common combination offered by most medical schools. Good for docs who plan to do clinical research/join a med school faculty.

It is not the same as two PhD's at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know someone who is working and publishing in two completely unrelated areas. He has PhD in one (mechanical engineering) and I think he completed all but the dissertation in another (ethnic studies). He is a tenured professor for engineering, but every summer he does some visiting stuff and fieldwork for the ethnic studies. He also does it for sabbaticals from his main job.

As to how he ended up in this situation, he is an immigrant. He did his undergrad for engineering and the coursework for ethnic studies abroad, but then he wanted a better life, so applied for a PhD in engineering in US.

Ok, I am the "Good God why" poster and I will say that I have heard of immigrants needing 2 PhDs because the foreign PhD isn't really "recognized" in the US.

But that's different from someone getting a PhD in English Literature and a PhD in Sociology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I have a friend who is a fully qualified medical doctor with an additional PhD in blood born diseases. That's her specialty.

That is a common combination offered by most medical schools. Good for docs who plan to do clinical research/join a med school faculty.

It is not the same as two PhD's at all.

My sis has a MD/PhD and it's not remotely the same as two PhDs.

JD/PhD is also not the same as two PhDs (those are usually patent attorneys).

[Anonymous]

Just to inform readers: the average PhD takes 5-7 years (in the US. Europe is different and quicker).

Med school is only 4 years, though of course physicians are required to train in clinical settings for years afterwards. They have graduated from med school at that point though.

[Anonymous]

In health economics, there are at least a handful of people who have MDs and econ PhDs. But I agree with others that if you are an academic who wants to do research in an adjacent field, it would be pointless to go through a formal program. Earning a PhD is supposed to be an indicator of your ability to learn independently. Maybe as a second career, like if you spent decades as a engineering professor and then wanted to study theology when you retired from that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I have a friend who is a fully qualified medical doctor with an additional PhD in blood born diseases. That's her specialty.

Uuuuh that was probably an MD/PhD program and a medical doctor is NOT a PhD lol. Multiple PhDs is usually a sign of poor planning and/or a major life mistake. Most PhD programs allow and in fact require minors or concentrations outside of your area of interest in order to get your degree. So, let's say I'm getting a PhD in psychology but i think I'm more interested in the computational side of cognitive science. I could take PhD level classes in computer science if that would contribute to my understanding of the topic. Or I'm getting a PhD in economics and I know I want to focus more on finance topics - I could take finance seminars in the business school (at most schools) for a finance minor concentration. People who are crappy planners do things like get a PhD in Social Psychology or Economics but didn't have the foresight or planning capability to take the proper mix of courses, so they then make the severe life error of going BACK for another PhD in Cognitive Science or Finance. Two PhDs is not a mark of pride

Gosh you have a lot to say. I can confirm my friend the doctor, does indeed have TWO PhD's, both earned at Universities in London. Thank you for your time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I have a friend who is a fully qualified medical doctor with an additional PhD in blood born diseases. That's her specialty.

Uuuuh that was probably an MD/PhD program and a medical doctor is NOT a PhD lol. Multiple PhDs is usually a sign of poor planning and/or a major life mistake. Most PhD programs allow and in fact require minors or concentrations outside of your area of interest in order to get your degree. So, let's say I'm getting a PhD in psychology but i think I'm more interested in the computational side of cognitive science. I could take PhD level classes in computer science if that would contribute to my understanding of the topic. Or I'm getting a PhD in economics and I know I want to focus more on finance topics - I could take finance seminars in the business school (at most schools) for a finance minor concentration. People who are crappy planners do things like get a PhD in Social Psychology or Economics but didn't have the foresight or planning capability to take the proper mix of courses, so they then make the severe life error of going BACK for another PhD in Cognitive Science or Finance. Two PhDs is not a mark of pride

Gosh you have a lot to say. I can confirm my friend the doctor, does indeed have TWO PhD's, both earned at Universities in London. Thank you for your time.

In the UK, getting a PhD usually only includes the research phase of the process (since students are often required to have a Masters first).

In the US, doctoral students are required to take 1-2 years of coursework before designing and carrying out an independent study. So, it would be easier/more feasible to pull that off at a British university.