Why are some professional degrees masters and some "doctorates"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What makes a JD or PharmD, say, an MLS, MBA, MSW, MFA, M.Arch. etc. so fundamentally different that they get "doctoral" degrees? There is no original research component for any of these degrees. Degree inflation?

You do a thesis for doctoral degree; you don't for master degrees:
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-phd.htm

It really all depends on what you want to be when you grow up.

So why do they give out the Juris Doctor, Doctor of Pharmacy, etc.?

Doctor of Law and Doctor of Medicine both predate the Ph.D and were created so that universities could sell professional degrees, as opposed to academic degrees. They are both modeled after the ancient practice of putting the term Doctor before a professional's name as an honorific. There is some element of marketing to them, but neither were an attempt to capitalize on the Ph.D, which wasn't as popular as it now is until later. The Ph.D was created because English Universities thought they needed to create a research degree to compete for American and German Students. Although we often put "Doctor" as an honorific before the name of someone who earned a Ph.D, the "doctor" in Ph.D does not stem from the honorific practice; it stems from the fact that the Ph.D is modelled after the ancient licentia docendi of a philosophy (Hence the "Ph.")

None of these names have a lot of literal significance. For example, the connection of most Ph.Ds to philosophy has long ago been lost, but if you get a doctorate in, say, sociology, there's a good chance your diploma still says Doctor of Philosophy on it. In fact, some college diplomas say this on it. Meanwhile, many professional degrees that have long been called doctorates were formally awarded as bachelors or masters degrees. For example, we have been putting the honorific "Doctor" before a medical doctor's name since before medical doctors degrees actually said "Doctor of" on them.

[Anonymous]

It seems that in the female-dominated professions there is less push to give the professional degree a doctorate. Which speaks volumes about sexist assumptions in our society.

Yes the Big Three professional degrees (JD, MD, DDS) are now roughly at gender-parity but female-dominated fields like Elementary Education, Social Work or Librarianship they say a Master's is sufficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What makes a JD or PharmD, say, an MLS, MBA, MSW, MFA, M.Arch. etc. so fundamentally different that they get "doctoral" degrees? There is no original research component for any of these degrees. Degree inflation?

You do a thesis for doctoral degree; you don't for master degrees:
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-phd.htm

It really all depends on what you want to be when you grow up.

I did a thesis for my MS. It wasn't as long as a doctoral thesis, and I only spent 1 year on it instead of 2 or 3 as a doctoral student in the same field may have, but it was still original research. Many master's programs don't require that-but it's not as simple as saying thesis or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd say an academic masters is higher than a JD.

If you have an English MA, say, you have more extensive knowledge. A JD is just the basic law degree.

In your wildest dreams. Try to sit for the bar sometime and get back to us on this issue of basic knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What makes a JD or PharmD, say, an MLS, MBA, MSW, MFA, M.Arch. etc. so fundamentally different that they get "doctoral" degrees? There is no original research component for any of these degrees. Degree inflation?

You do a thesis for doctoral degree; you don't for master degrees:
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-phd.htm

It really all depends on what you want to be when you grow up.

Nope, not true at all. Many MA programs will allow you to do 30 hours of coursework for the degree but some still require a thesis, which is considered the equivalent of two classes. I wrote a thesis for my MA and a dissertation for my PHd.

[Anonymous]

I've heard before of something being a terminal degree.
As in: there is no higher honor or more education within that specific field.
Sure you can get a Ph.D. In some other subject, but you've reached the highest point.

Is that why?

I know this because my spouse has a DVM. It's presented this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In your wildest dreams. Try to sit for the bar sometime and get back to us on this issue of basic knowledge.

Yeah, I forgot about all those prereqs for law school.

You also get the JD before sitting the bar exam. Even those that flunk the bar exam and never become lawyers are still Juris Doctors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What makes a JD or PharmD, say, an MLS, MBA, MSW, MFA, M.Arch. etc. so fundamentally different that they get "doctoral" degrees? There is no original research component for any of these degrees. Degree inflation?

You do a thesis for doctoral degree; you don't for master degrees:
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-phd.htm

It really all depends on what you want to be when you grow up.

Nope, not true at all. Many MA programs will allow you to do 30 hours of coursework for the degree but some still require a thesis, which is considered the equivalent of two classes. I wrote a thesis for my MA and a dissertation for my PHd.

+1. Most master's require a thesis. DH's STEM masters was a 3 year program. I think a PhD was only a year more of coursework.

Lawyers are not doctors. Truly only academic teachers/professors and MDs should hold that title.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What makes a JD or PharmD, say, an MLS, MBA, MSW, MFA, M.Arch. etc. so fundamentally different that they get "doctoral" degrees? There is no original research component for any of these degrees. Degree inflation?

You do a thesis for doctoral degree; you don't for master degrees:
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-phd.htm

It really all depends on what you want to be when you grow up.

Nope, not true at all. Many MA programs will allow you to do 30 hours of coursework for the degree but some still require a thesis, which is considered the equivalent of two classes. I wrote a thesis for my MA and a dissertation for my PHd.

+1. Most master's require a thesis. DH's STEM masters was a 3 year program. I think a PhD was only a year more of coursework.

Lawyers are not doctors. Truly only academic teachers/professors and MDs should hold that title.

Your obsession with lawyers are not doctors is just weird. Who really cares what they are called? I'm a JD/MA (English) and in formal legal settings (briefings & correspondence to the Court) other attorneys sometimes put "Esquire" after my name. In the 20 years since I have graduated from law school (and passed 3 bars), exactly no one has called me Dr. My Last Name. In fact, I've never head of any JD being referred to as Dr. Last Name. That would be weird and I would correct them. It's not an academic doctorate, it's a professional one, and no one is pretending otherwise. That said, law school is a very tough path that prepares you for direct entry into professional practice (after passing the bar, of course). Saying it it less rigorous than an MA in liberal arts makes you look ridiculous. I did a 4 year JD/MA joint program, and put 85% of my time and effort in the JD piece. JD/MBAs were also common in my school, and, once again, it was 3 tough years of JD (with some business law classes to cross count) and a "slacker" year to finish the MBA.

[Anonymous]

Law school was more work because you were learning a new subject, not because the degree is "more advanced" or "intellectual." It's the entry-level, basic law degree. An MA in say, English or history, means you have some background in the area and you can do more advanced work.

[Anonymous]

Another way to look at it: the JD is basically a masters with a qualifying or remedial year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems that in the female-dominated professions there is less push to give the professional degree a doctorate. Which speaks volumes about sexist assumptions in our society.

Yes the Big Three professional degrees (JD, MD, DDS) are now roughly at gender-parity but female-dominated fields like Elementary Education, Social Work or Librarianship they say a Master's is sufficient.

I'm not sure about that. Have any masters become doctorates in the last 40 years? I certainly agree the professions with doctorates have greater gender equality problems, but I think most of the push to create professional doctorates predates women being allowed to be "professionals" at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Law school was more work because you were learning a new subject, not because the degree is "more advanced" or "intellectual." It's the entry-level, basic law degree. An MA in say, English or history, means you have some background in the area and you can do more advanced work.

This is basically word salad, which makes me hope you don't have an MA in English.

[Anonymous]

^ Pharmacy, Physical Therapy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This is basically word salad, which makes me hope you don't have an MA in English.

Nope, just a mere JD.