Ph.D. requirements include a bachelor's and master's degree..
A Ph.D. is the highest possible academic degree. It reflects unsurpassed expertise and experience in the subject for which it is granted. Earning a Ph.D. requires years of education and dedication: Candidates must first earn a four-year bachelor's degree and a two-year master's degree. Ph.D. programs take between three and eight years to complete, depending on whether students attend full time.
Bachelor's Degree
The first step to earning a Ph.D. is obtaining a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. It is during this time that students begin to develop the networking, study and research skills that will ensure success in a Ph.D. program. Students are advised to take well-organized notes; submit assigned work on time; ask for help when it is needed; form study groups with other serious-minded students; and form close relationships with professors, advisers and mentors. Bachelor degree students can prepare for the next step in their education by maintaining a high GPA, earning competitive scores on the GRE (Graduate Records Admissions) examination and demonstrating professional and academic excellence.
Master's Degree
Ph.D. candidates are also required to have a master's degree. Completion of a master's degree typically takes two years of full-time study. Graduation requirements generally include a "B" or higher GPA, passing of written and oral examinations and the submission of a master's thesis based on original research. Much of the coursework required to earn a Ph.D. involves extensive research. Graduate students interested in pursuing a doctorate degree should involve themselves in as many research projects as possible to demonstrate their level of academic commitment and aptitude for Ph.D.-level work.
Standardized Tests
The Education Portal website reports Ph.D. programs may require applicants to submit standardized test scores for admission. Some schools may ask for GRE (Graduate Records Examination) scores; others may ask applicants to submit scores from the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). The type of standardized exam and required scores depends upon the doctorate degree program applicants intend to complete. For example, Ph.D. candidates in mathematics, technology or science may need higher scores on the quantitative portion of the GRE, while Ph.D. candidates in the humanities will need higher scores on the verbal reasoning section. Students intending to earn a Ph.D. in accounting or a related field would need to submit high scores from the GMAT.
Minimum GPA
Most Ph.D. programs have a minimum GPA requirement. Applicants generally must have maintained a 3.0 or better in their master's degree program, and will need to maintain a 3.0 or better GPA in order to graduate with their Ph.D.
Teaching Requirement
Most Ph.D. programs require candidates to fulfill a teaching requirement. Students must teach at least two semesters of undergraduate or master's level courses within the department granting their doctorate.
Research
Ph.D. programs, especially those in scientific subjects, have a large research component. Students are required to complete several semesters of independent research, much of which will be used to compile a final dissertation.
Oral and Written Examinations
While earning their degree, Ph.D. candidates are required to sit for several exams. These include a preliminary exam during the first year of the program; a later examination to determine whether the student is eligible to apply for a Ph.D.; and a field exam requiring the student to demonstrate specific knowledge in their specialty. Before graduating, Ph.D. candidates are required to defend their research and academic expertise through a series of oral and written examinations. Conferment of the doctorate degree is contingent upon passing these tests.
Dissertation
At the program's end, Ph.D. candidates must submit a lengthy dissertation, based on original research, that displays academic and professional expertise from a uniquely personal point of view. Dissertations must be presented to the candidate's peers, professors and department faculty.
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