More than one PhD?

[Anonymous]

It's rare but not unusual. Some Turing prize winners have two Ph.D.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Also, an English DPhil does not teach pedagogy which is why it is not valued as much as a US Doctorate in the States.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

These two areas can be quite similar in tools used. But wow, 10 years seems like a lot to end up in academia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I do know someone who has a “double” PhD (two areas, one degree) in computer science and electrical engineering as well as an MBA. Very successful person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good God, why?

— someone with a PhD

+1

-another PhD

[Anonymous]

Sure, if you're specializing in different subjects. My husband has an MD and a PhD, which he acquired separately, not through a dual degree program. He uses both sets of expertise in a cutting edge field of research at NIH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure, if you're specializing in different subjects. My husband has an MD and a PhD, which he acquired separately, not through a dual degree program. He uses both sets of expertise in a cutting edge field of research at NIH.

He does not have TWO PhD's.

As others have posted, that is different than an MD and a PhD.

This thread is NOT about people like your husband.

[Anonymous]

I think it will be more common in the future. As our healthy lives are lasting longer it is conceivable that people will work 50-60 years. That is a long time in one profession. I think people may want to go back and learn something new for a second career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it will be more common in the future. As our healthy lives are lasting longer it is conceivable that people will work 50-60 years. That is a long time in one profession. I think people may want to go back and learn something new for a second career.

What second career requires a(nother) PhD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, if you're specializing in different subjects. My husband has an MD and a PhD, which he acquired separately, not through a dual degree program. He uses both sets of expertise in a cutting edge field of research at NIH.

He does not have TWO PhD's.

As others have posted, that is different than an MD and a PhD.

This thread is NOT about people like your husband.

PP you replied to. Pardon me, but I know better than you what my husband did with his career. He went through medical school and many years of specialization, wrote a medical thesis, worked as a professor at a hospital, then went back to graduate school and earned a PhD, which took him longer than usual, since he was also working as a doctor for part of his studies, before switching over to lab research to have material to write his PhD thesis. It many ways, it was harder than earning two separate PhDs.

Why did he do this? Because he pioneered the creation of a new field and needed all that expertise. There are very few people like him. He is now applying all this to Covid-19 research.

Have some respect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, if you're specializing in different subjects. My husband has an MD and a PhD, which he acquired separately, not through a dual degree program. He uses both sets of expertise in a cutting edge field of research at NIH.

He does not have TWO PhD's.

As others have posted, that is different than an MD and a PhD.

This thread is NOT about people like your husband.

PP you replied to. Pardon me, but I know better than you what my husband did with his career. He went through medical school and many years of specialization, wrote a medical thesis, worked as a professor at a hospital, then went back to graduate school and earned a PhD, which took him longer than usual, since he was also working as a doctor for part of his studies, before switching over to lab research to have material to write his PhD thesis. It many ways, it was harder than earning two separate PhDs.

Why did he do this? Because he pioneered the creation of a new field and needed all that expertise. There are very few people like him. He is now applying all this to Covid-19 research.

Have some respect.

I’m sure he is fantabulous. Harder than two PhDs doesn’t mean he got two PhDs.